Little buddies have helped each other take their first steps at school under a scheme highly praised by a school watchdog.

The 'buddy' system at St Anthony's Catholic Primary School in Clayton impressed inspectors from Ofsted who drew up a brilliant report.

The school won A*s for helping youngsters attain higher grades than those achieved at similar schools. Teaching was said to be "consistently good" throughout the school, and "excellent" in five of the lessons observed.

And the inspectors were highly impressed with the buddy system linking children in Year 6 with younger pupils in Year 2. Under the scheme older children are twinned with younger ones, reading with each other and playing together one break time a week.

In one year group, they hold joint art sessions, and the 11-year-olds, for a technology project, have designed and made slippers for their six-year-old pals, first measuring their feet and then designing the slippers on paper.

The felt slippers were made-to-measure and decorated with a range of moving eyes, feathers and hearts.

The Ofsted report praises the scheme, pointing out how it illustrates the school's caring ethos.

"Initiatives such as the buddy system, where older pupils partner younger pupils to help them, particularly in reading, have benefited all pupils," the report says.

"The school promotes a work ethic of 'It's cool to learn'. Social and moral development are encouraged by the opportunities for all ages to learn from one another through their buddy system, where older and younger pupils share reading or art and design. Co-operation and good relationships are encouraged, not only in lessons, but at play time."

Head teacher Barbara Ford said: "The children absolutely loved doing the slippers for their buddies - it meant they had to measure their feet and keep liaising with them and taking them to try them on. As a school we achieve academically extremely well, but we are offering a holistic and balanced education."

The Catholic school in Bradford Lane, Clayton, has 253 children on roll - doubled from 14 years ago. Pictured are Ryan Mahoney, left, and Chloe Pattison, right, wearing the slippers made for them by Katherine Suddards and Olivia Streloff.