A SMALL Lake District village school where children begin their day with a morning run continues to be "good", says Ofsted.

The 52 pupils at Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School are "polite and very well behaved", said the inspector in her report. They are receiving "a good quality of education", including learning outside the classroom in Fletcher's Field.

Head teacher Carol Sharp said she was "absolutely delighted" with the findings and they acknowledged the school's efforts to make improvements in the last couple of years.

"It's the community that's worked really hard to maintain such a good school," she said, "and that's what we want to shout from the rooftops, how well the children do here.

"The children are really well adjusted; they are confident children that are prepared to have a go and they can stand up and perform."

Ofsted inspector Gill Pritchard said the head teacher and governors had led the Main Street school through "a period of substantial change".

As head teacher Mrs Sharp explained, two part-time members of staff were lost due to budget cuts.

The "vast proportion" of parents and carers the inspector spoke to said they were "very positive about the school".

Pupils had spoken of their enjoyment of learning, and their pride in the school.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron recently praised Hawkshead school for its "very impressive" SATs test results, and the inspector said teachers had been successful in raising pupils' attainment, especially in writing at the end of Key Stage 1.

Meanwhile, teachers were working to ensure the most able pupils reached the higher standards of which they were capable.