Ashbridge Independent School is a co-educational school for boys and girls from four to eleven years. The school has a large nursery for babies aged 3 months to 3 years which was inspected by the Early Years’ Inspectorate in September 2005. The school and nursery moved in 2001 to its current premises in Hutton, a rural area near to Preston, Lancashire. At the time of the school inspection there were 42 boys and 30 girls on roll. None have a statement of special educational need or require support for English as an additional language. Admission is non-selective. The school enjoys an attractive setting in 11 acres of meadows and woodland. It places emphasis on using the outdoor environment to widen the pupils’ learning experiences. The school’s key principles are: ‘breadth and balance, depth and challenge, enjoyment and enthusiasm and flexibility to enable rapid response to a changing environment.’ Overall evaluation of the school Ashbridge Independent School is a good school with some outstanding features. It meets all of the regulatory requirements. The school has exemplary procedures for the pupils’ welfare, health and safety. Its strengths lie further in its broad and balanced curriculum which is well-matched to the needs of its pupils. Teaching is good and enables pupils to make good progress. The curriculum is promoted effectively through the use of the excellent indoor and outdoor environment. Curriculum provision is good. It provides all subjects of the National Curriculum and is extended by French, drama and environmental science. Personal, health, and social education together with citizenship (PSHCE), is taught throughout the school. Planning for subjects is very good with thorough long-term planning. Published schemes of work effectively supplement planning in mathematics, French and information and communication technology (ICT). Planning for the pupils in the Reception class is based appropriately on national guidelines for this age group. In Year 1, planning is based on the early stages of the National Curriculum through themes which incorporate subject areas. Although both Reception and Year 1 pupils are grouped as one unit, their work is planned conscientiously to meet the needs of their ages and abilities. The work planned for other joined year groups is also carefully planned to meet the pupils’ needs and National Curriculum requirements. Exemplary use is made of the excellent outdoor facilities which promote the pupils’ progress in a range of subjects including science and art. Good provision is made for pupils with special educational needs and those identified as gifted and talented.