Ark Little Ridge Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are overwhelmingly proud of their school.

They really value how staff treat them as individuals. There are warm, supportive relationships between staff and pupils across the school. As a result, pupils flourish and are aspirational in all aspects of their learning.

As one pupil stated, 'We all want to be the best we can be.'

Behaviour is impeccable. All staff have high expectations, and pupils rise to meet these exceptionally well.

They contribute to 'The Little Ridge Way' by consistently being 'at right place, doing the right thing at the right time'.

Pupils constantly strive to be a role model for their peers. Staff maximise every ...opportunity for pupils to take responsibility through leadership roles.

These include becoming prefects, playtime buddies, well-being warriors or members of the school council. Pupils also respectfully share their thoughts and opinions with their peers and celebrate each other's differences. In the words of one pupil, 'The world would be boring if everyone was the same.'



A diverse club offer ensures that pupils' talents and interests are carefully considered. Pupils enjoy football, netball, multisports, gymnastics, violin and guitar clubs. Staff are diligent in ensuring that all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, never miss out.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school's academic curriculum is underpinned by a thoughtful wider development programme that provides exceptional learning opportunities for all. Pupils benefit from a variety of stimulating experiences that are carefully considered. These include a range of exciting activities linked to their learning, such as theatre visits and museum trips.

The curriculum is highly ambitious for all pupils. It is well planned and organised to ensure that pupils learn key vocabulary and build their knowledge over time. Learning is broken down into manageable steps, and teachers model the skills that they want pupils to learn.

There is a regular recap of what pupils have recently learned. This ensures that pupils commit learning to their long-term memory. Consequently, pupils achieve highly, based on their individual starting points.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are expertly supported to learn the same curriculum as their peers. Staff are highly effective at adapting work to meet the needs of all pupils. In the 'Chester' class, adults give personalised support that meets pupils' individual needs.

Teachers build a detailed picture of every pupil, ensuring that the correct provision is in place as soon as pupils start at the school. This in turn ensures that effective learning begins immediately. This continues throughout pupils' time at school.

Consequently, pupils are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Reading is at the heart of the school's provision. The bespoke reading programme ensures that pupils explore interesting and diverse texts that further support their learning in different subjects.

Through this, pupils develop a love of reading. Phonics lessons in early years help children to become confident and fluent readers quickly. Staff model sounds precisely and lead activities that enable children to practise regularly what they have learned.

Early years staff use stories to help children acquire a wide vocabulary. If any pupils find learning to read more difficult, staff waste no time in giving them effective extra support. This ensures that these pupils gain the reading skills they need in order to learn effectively across the whole curriculum.

Right from Reception, children are eager to learn. In subjects such as mathematics, teachers skilfully help to develop pupils' confidence in using number and problem-solving. In other subjects, such as science and physical education, the curriculum enhances pupils' knowledge and skills.

Pupils keenly draw links between what they learn, such as exploring their understanding of the digestive system alongside knowledge of healthy diets and exercise. The high achievement of pupils is reflected in the high-quality work pupils produce and their ability to recall quickly and apply the interesting knowledge they have learned.

The behaviour of pupils is excellent.

Pupils eagerly come to school each day, and attendance is high. Staff are determined to give pupils and their families bespoke support to ensure that every pupil consistently benefits from the high-quality education on offer.

The school's carefully considered personal development programme helps pupils to explore concepts such as diversity and acceptance.

The 'All About Me' project at the start of early years gives every child the chance to celebrate the similarities and differences between themselves and their classmates. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the provision on offer and the support from the school, with one parent reflecting, 'Little Ridge is a beacon for the community, where every child is at the heart of decision-making.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.