A SILSDEN school has gained official recognition of its efforts to involve the families of its pupils.

Aire View Infant School has been presented with an Engaging Families Award, following an assessment carried out earlier this year.

Parental involvement officer Louise Heslop said: "We were really pleased to receive the award. We're a very inclusive school for families, we like to have them on board and we invite them into school at every opportunity.

"It is nice for our work to be recognised, and it's good for the parents too, because this is a two-way relationship."

The assessors' written report states: "All families and the community are encouraged and supported to take part in school life, including taking an active role in supporting children’s learning.

"The availability of the school's staff to parents, their warmth and the non-judgemental manner in which they support families is highlighted as a real strength by parents, who say that, ‘everyone is made to feel special'.

"A parent with a child currently in nursery said, ‘if nursery is the model then the rest of the school will be wonderful’.

"The atmosphere at the school is warm and engaging and all staff are seen as approachable."

The report also singles out Aire View's work to promote parents' involvement in school decision-making and its emphasis on encouraging pupils to continue their learning when at home.