AN INDEPENDENT special school has been rated as good by Ofsted for the third time in a row.

Teaseldown, Sugar Loaves, Sible Hedingham, was given one day’s notice of the inspection last month and was awarded good in all areas.

The school, on the outskirts of Ridgewell, was first registered in May 2009 when it had eight students in a four-bedroom house.

In early 2015 Teaseldown relocated to its present home, a former pub, after it was renovated. This allowed the school to expand and increase the number of students to 12.

The report, published on Tuesday, said: “Leaders’ ambitious vision to establish a setting to provide for pupils whose needs had not been met elsewhere has been realised.

The service provided meets the vast majority of pupils’ needs extremely well. For some families, the impact is literally life-changing.

“Pupils often come to the school having been out of education for a long time.

Many pupils have high levels of anxiety and social phobia.

“Staff work effectively to support pupils to re-engage in learning and achieve outcomes that had not seemed possible prior to joining the school.”

The school, which has annual fees of £49,380, also operates as an exam centre for its students.

The report stated: “Pupils feel happy, valued and well cared for.

They appreciate the difference staff have made to help them develop their self-confidence and be able to learn more effectively.”