Tockington Manor School offers its boarders a good deal

Tockington Manor School has been given a high quality rating for its boarding service.

The co-educational school, near Thornbury, has 250 pupils aged between two and 14 in its nursery, lower and upper school. Children can be either day pupils or boarders – from the age of seven – with boarding arrangements on a full-time, weekly or casual basis.

Social care inspectors from Ofsted spent two days at the school to inspect the boarding facilities and gave an overall quality rating of good, with some areas outstanding.

Parents also rated the boarding provision and the overall care as exceptional.

The inspectors said areas covering keeping pupils safe, their economic well being and organisation were judged as good. But they said the way the school helped youngsters to be healthy, achieve and enjoy what they were doing was outstanding.

The inspectors said suggested improvements highlighted during a previous visit had resulted in a complete redesign and improvement of the medical room.

Children were taught to respect each other's possessions and trust the boarding community's rules.

The report, by Wilfried Maxfield and Thomas Webber said: "The school provides pupils with a good choice of well-prepared meals. Children and parents report that they love and appreciate the attention the school pays to the preparation of meals."

A housekeeper and cleaners kept boarders' bedding and clothing washed and maintained. The inspectors said: "Boarders live in a homely, welcoming and warm environment, where positive relationships exist between staff and children and between the boarders themselves. Comments of children are very positive and they clearly appreciate the care and support of their staff group. All report that they feel at home and welcome and that the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.

"Accommodation is maintained to a good standard and is kept clean, tidy and comfortable.

"The promotion of equality and diversity is also outstanding. Children with a wide variety of individual and cultural needs are well integrated."