Long Mountain CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a happy school where pupils enjoy learning.

When asked what they like about school, they reply 'everything'. Adults teach pupils the school's values, which are taken from the Bible. This starts in Nursery.

These include kindness, gentleness and self-control. As a result, the relationships between adults and pupils are respectful.

Behaviour in class and around the school is very good.

If pupils are unkind to each other, adults sort it out quickly. Pupils feel safe at school and learn how to be responsible and considerate.

The school provides a broad curriculum.

Leaders have high aspirations for what pupils can achieve across ...all subjects. However, in some subjects, such as mathematics, pupils are not supported to do their best. This means that they do not achieve as well as they might.

The school helps to prepare pupils to become active citizens. For example, they have taken part in litter-picking in the local area. They have raised money for charity.

Year 6 pupils are learning how to become play leaders. These experiences prepare pupils well for the next stage in their education.

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

All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), follow a broad curriculum.

Leaders have reviewed the curriculum to make sure that schemes of work are well planned and sequenced. In history, for example, the new scheme shows how pupils will build on what they know year on year. This helps pupils to know and remember more.

However, the use of this new scheme has only just started. In some subjects, such as modern foreign languages and computing, the new schemes are yet to begin. In addition, teachers are new to their roles as subject leaders, so routines for checking on how well pupils are learning are at an early stage.

However, developments are moving in the right direction.

Children in Nursery get off to a good start. Adults have a good understanding of how to meet their needs.

For example, their checks found that some two-year-old children need extra help to develop their language. These children have support from a speech and language therapist. Staff have also had additional training.

Across the school, pupils are supported to speak with confidence.

The curriculum in early years is well planned and ambitious for all. Leaders have thought about how the early curriculum prepares children for key stage 1.

In forest school, for example, children learn the names of different trees. This helps them with later learning about common wild and garden plants in Year 1 science lessons.

In early years, adults use resources well to support children's learning in mathematics.

As a result, children develop a good early understanding of number. This focus on number continues into key stages 1 and 2. However, there is not a consistent approach to the teaching of mathematics across the school.

Pupils do not cover all aspects of mathematics in enough depth, and can find it hard to explain how they have worked out their answers.

Reading is a priority at this school. Leaders promote a love of reading through, for example, taking part in World Book Day.

A 'star readers' display in the hall celebrates pupils' achievements. There is a reading programme in place and adults expect pupils to read every day. This begins in Nursery, when adults introduce children to the sounds that letters represent, and continues into Reception and key stage 1.

As a result, most younger pupils, including those with SEND, make good progress. However, in key stage 2, the focus on reading is not as strong. Some pupils begin to lose interest in reading as they get older.

Some are not able to read fluently. This means that they are not as well prepared for the next stage of their education as they could be.

Leaders promote pupils' personal development well.

For example, collective worship helps pupils to learn about whom they can trust. Pupils know that they should treat everyone with equal respect.

Leaders consider staff workload and well-being.

For example, the headteacher makes sure that staff meetings are focused and purposeful. Staff value leaders' supportive approach.

Governors are committed to ensuring that the school continues to improve and that pupils achieve well.

For example, they asked for training from the local authority on how to hold leaders to account. Records from governing body meetings show that governors question leaders about whether their actions are improving the school and pupils' progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Pupils feel safe in school. The school has a strong culture of safeguarding. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has extensive knowledge and expertise in how to keep pupils safe.

The school works well with external agencies. This means families get the help they need when they need it. Parents and carers value this support.

All staff have up-to-date training. The school completes the appropriate checks on all adults who work at, or visit, the school.

Through the curriculum, pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe.

This includes online safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Teachers are new to the role of subject leaders. Currently, their role in checking the quality of learning in their subject areas is underdeveloped.

Leaders should support teachers in the development of their role as subject leaders to ensure that they have the appropriate skills and knowledge to be able to successfully monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of their subject areas. ? The school's attention to promoting and developing pupils' reading slips in key stage 2. This means some pupils' fluency and/or interest in reading stalls or declines.

Leaders should ensure that pupils sustain an enjoyment in reading. They also need to make sure that the reading programme at key stage 2 is rigorous enough to ensure that pupils' reading continues to improve. ? The school's approach to teaching mathematics varies from one class to the next.

This mixed approach has led to pupils not learning all that they should. Leaders should established a more consistent approach. They should support this with more oversight, guidance and training for staff.