All Hallows CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school has established a clear vision and values. There is a determination to ensure that the school is 'at the heart of the community, with the children at the heart of the school'. Pupils value the school.

They appreciate being part of a small church school where everyone is 'truly known'.

The new behaviour policy is working well. Pupils show each other kindness.

They are polite and courteous. In lessons, pupils are focused and engaged. They work collaboratively.

Pupils appreciate the house points they receive for positive behaviour. 'Behaviour sanction' cards are rarely issued.

Pupils said that they trust that teachers will quickly re...solve bullying or friendship concerns.

Pupils particularly value the emotional literacy support assistant (ELSA) help they receive. They said that the ELSA room was a place where they can be listened to and 'express yourself'.

The school has undergone much needed change.

A well-planned curriculum is now in place in most subjects. However, the curriculum is not yet consistently implemented, including in the early years. Expectations for some pupils are not high enough.

Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and the most able pupils, do not achieve as well as they could.

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

A lot of work has been undertaken in recent times to ensure a curriculum that is well structured and meets the scope of the national curriculum. Staff have identified the key knowledge that pupils must acquire.

They are working to ensure that pupils remember this learning long term. Some subjects are further along this journey than others.

There is now a well-planned and sequenced phonics curriculum in place.

There has been great investment to ensure that pupils' reading books match the sounds that they are learning. Staff have received appropriate training. The teaching of the early reading curriculum has improved but is not yet consistently strong.

There are not enough checks made in lessons to ensure that pupils have acquired the knowledge they need. This means that some pupils' phonics knowledge, such as the sounds that letters make, is not precise enough. This is a barrier to some pupils becoming confident readers.

Staff, including teaching assistants, skilfully support the pupils with SEND who have complex needs. They ensure that the educational and medical needs of these pupils are met. However, the curriculum for some pupils with SEND is not always suitably adapted.

This limits the development of their knowledge and skills.

Teachers are extremely experienced. They have good subject knowledge.

They present information clearly. Pupils value their teachers. They said that their teachers make learning interesting and fun.

The school is working within significant financial constraints. This limits the amount of professional development opportunities that staff can access. The school has been creative in its approach to addressing this issue, including through leadership coaching.

However, some talented subject leaders do not have the allocated time or leadership development to fulfil their roles as effectively as they could.

The school promotes the love of reading. Staff ensure that pupils access a range of high-quality texts in their English lessons and in other subjects across the curriculum.

Many teachers are expert storytellers. They enhance pupils' experience of the spoken word. Pupils speak enthusiastically about their reading and the 'library ticket' recognition that they receive.

The curriculum in the early years is newly written and is yet to be fully embedded. There is a clear intention to ensure that published outcomes improve and that all children, whatever their starting points, achieve well. Children settle well into the provision.

They quickly learn the routines. They play and collaborate happily. Relationships between staff and parents are strong.

The provision is highly valued by parents.

Pupils benefit from a well-structured personal, social and health education curriculum. They appreciate the assembly programme that further enriches their understanding of faith and the wider world outside of the school.

They have a strong understanding of fairness and the importance of equality. Pupils receive a wide range of leadership opportunities. They are proud of the roles, such as peer mentors, office owls and members of the pupil parliament.

Pupils said that they feel that they have a voice in the school and that their voice really matters.

The curriculum extends beyond lessons. Pupils access a wide range of extra-curricular clubs.

They play sport and dance. They enjoy community events, trips, tournaments and concerts. Singing is at the heart of the school.

Pupils said that their teachers considered their 'well-being in lessons and outside of class'. They value the experiences they receive and the care they are shown.

There has been a great deal of change in a short amount of time.

This was initially unsettling for some staff. However, leaders and staff have come together and worked hard to improve the school, often under challenging circumstances. They have shown huge commitment.

They express immense pride in working at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The school has recognised that safeguarding records do not always accurately reflect all the actions taken to keep pupils safe.

They are not routinely logged in a comprehensive and clear manner. The school has not been swift enough to fully address this issue.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The curriculum is not suitably adapted to meet the needs of all learners.

The ambition for some pupils is too low. This means that some pupils, including pupils with SEND and the most able pupils, do not achieve as well as they should. The school must ensure that the curriculum is implemented effectively and adapted across all subjects and in the early years.

It must ensure that all pupils achieve the ambitious outcomes of which they are capable. ? Subject leaders do not receive the time or the training required to conduct their roles. This is a barrier to swift and effective curriculum implementation.

The school must ensure that subject leaders receive the professional opportunities needed to carry out their roles expertly. ? In lessons, the curriculum in many subjects is not suitably adapted for pupils with SEND. This limits the knowledge and skills they acquire.

The school must ensure that the curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced so that the learning needs of pupils with SEND are fully met. ? The school has a positive safeguarding culture, but some safeguarding records are not as well kept as is necessary. The school must urgently ensure that the safeguarding records are comprehensive, clear and well managed.

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