The leaders of Exmouth's Littleham Primary School have vowed to improve the education they provide for all their pupils, after it was rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted.

The executive head and chair of governors, Katharine Gray and Vanessa Briggs, say they already have a comprehensive plan in place.

The school inspectors visited in May and published their report on September 13, saying the Church of England Primary was providing an inadequate standard of education for its 110 pupils.

They said due to staff turbulence, the school's leaders had been unable to realise their vision for the curriculum and pupils did not learn well enough.

The report said: "Actions to improve the school are not happening quickly enough."

But lead inspector Gavin Summerfield also highlighted a number of positive aspects.

He said: "Relationships between staff and pupils are a strength of the school. Most pupils feel safe and happy.

"Parents are positive about the work of the school. Leaders know pupils and their families well."

Executive head Mrs Gray said that one third of the teaching staff had joined the school just weeks before the inspection and were still bedding in, while a further third were supply teachers.

 The new head of learning had joined at the start of the academic year and was still making changes to the curriculum.

She said: "We had already identified the areas that the inspectors highlighted and had started to address them. We have now refined our improvement plan still further."

Teachers have received more training to improve the children's reading and the curriculum has been adapted to incorporate the highest aspirations for pupils with special educational needs who make up 40 per cent of the register - well above the national average.

Mrs Briggs said the governors recognised the needs of the children and their families; 53 per cent were entitled to free school meals compared with 22 per cent nationally.

She said: "Many children's learning has been hit by Covid but we recognise that it hit children from lower income families the hardest. We are pleased that the inspection found that our safeguarding and pastoral arrangements are effective and that the children feel safe and happy."

Mrs Briggs and Mrs Gray are also receiving support from the successful First Federation - which runs a number of schools in East Devon - to help with all aspects of their improvement plan.