Anson CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a successful, well-led school, where pupils and staff flourish. There is a warm, family atmosphere, where everyone 'believes and achieves' together.

Pupils say that the best thing about the school is the caring staff. Pupils are happy and enjoy being here.

The school has the highest expectations for all.

Leaders have created an environment where everyone gets the support they need to thrive. Pupils work hard in lessons and achieve well. Pupils' behaviour and attitudes are exceptional.

Pupils encourage each other, and relationships are strong. Pupils play happily together in the playground. Pupils feel that school is safe and free from bullyin...g.

They know they can share any worries with a trusted adult, who will help them. Pupils agree that there is always someone to look after them. The school values of love, respect and friendship provide powerful and consistent reminders of what is important at Anson CofE Primary.

Pupils have many and varied opportunities to contribute to the life of the school and the wider community. They can become monitors or part of various councils. Children in Reception have special jobs in the classroom.

Older pupils really care about their younger 'prayer partners' and check on them at playtimes.

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

The curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school and trust are determined to make the curriculum the best it can be and are constantly refining it.

As a result, pupils achieve well at this school.

Teachers have good subject knowledge and present information clearly to pupils. They check pupils' understanding and give them clear feedback so that they know how to improve.

Teachers regularly refer to previous learning. For example, in mathematics, pupils are encouraged to use their prior knowledge to find their own ways of solving problems and to talk about their thinking. Their understanding builds over time so that they become confident in their use of different mathematical operations.

Teachers focus on developing pupils' subject-specific vocabulary. In Reception, children learn the names of the planets, and in key stage 1 pupils use terms like 'microbes' in science lessons.

The school meets the needs of pupils with SEND effectively, including those with a high level of need.

Pupils receive the right support because staff are knowledgeable about strategies to help them learn. Pupils with SEND enjoy school and recognise that the help they receive enables them to make progress.

The school provides engaging experiences to bring learning to life for pupils.

Pupils love their learning. However, in a small number of foundation subjects, while pupils remember the activities in which they have engaged, they cannot always recall what they have learned. The school is still embedding recent changes in these subjects so that, in future, pupils can make stronger connections between previous learning and new concepts and remember the important knowledge.

Reading is a priority, and staff encourage pupils to read widely and for pleasure. Teachers use consistent and effective approaches in phonics lessons. This means pupils learn to read with increasing fluency.

They have the right books to support them to read confidently. Pupils who struggle to read get the support they need to catch up.

Pupils have excellent attitudes to learning.

They take pride in their work, and books show a high standard of well-presented work. Attendance is positive because pupils want to be in school. The 'Rainbow room' provides a calm space for pupils to receive pastoral support or to get extra help with learning.

Children thrive in the outstanding early years. Relationships between adults and children are warm and respectful. Expert staff provide pupils with well-planned activities that build knowledge across the year so that pupils are ready for Year 1.

Teachers adapt learning to meet children's needs, and there is no ceiling put on any child's learning. This means that children are exceptionally well engaged.

The school provides pupils with rich and varied experiences to develop their interests and talents.

Activities are strategically planned to supplement and expand on what is being learned in school. Pupils have meaningful opportunities to make a real difference in their local community, such as working alongside landscapers to design a sustainable play area in a local park. Residential trips help pupils to work together and become confident away from home.

Pupils develop a deep understanding of equality and diversity. They actively respect and celebrate difference. Pupils learn about current issues and fundamental British values through assemblies and events such as 'parliament week'.

Leaders listen to pupils and allow them to develop their own ideas for clubs and charity events, such as 'freezer pop Fridays' and the bee displays, which raised money to buy bee friendly seeds to plant in the school grounds.

Leadership and management are exceptional. The school and trust benefit from leaders who understand and fulfil their roles very effectively.

They challenge each other to ensure that decisions and changes benefit all pupils and staff. Staff feel supported by leaders and are proud to work here. Trustees, governors, staff and parents are part of a close and caring community.

They are united in wanting the best for all the pupils. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school has not yet securely embedded some aspects of the curriculum in a small number of foundation subjects. In these subjects, pupils do not have the depth of knowledge that leaders intend through the ambitious curriculum. The school should continue to embed the planned refinements to support pupils to remember important knowledge and further develop their skills in these subjects.

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