Arkholme Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are cherished at this small and friendly school. Staff are committed to helping pupils to gain a strong sense of community and belonging.

Pupils feel confident to be themselves in the school's supportive atmosphere. They said that they are proud of their school. They are happy and feel safe.

The school has high expectations of pupils' achievement. Pupils live up to these expectations. They apply themselves during lessons and achieve well.

Pupils enjoy learning together. For example, the whole school recently enjoyed studying the same book and sharing their work with each other.

Pupils make a strong contribution to the calm environment of the s...chool.

They are polite and well mannered. Pupils have respectful relationships with staff, who care for them well. In the early years, children settle quickly into school routines.

Pupils benefit from a wide range of trips and visits. They enjoy visiting new places to learn about life beyond their village. Pupils have visited places further afield and have enjoyed trips to the seaside, the theatre and a museum.

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

The school has developed an ambitious curriculum that successfully meets the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has carefully considered what pupils should learn, starting from the beginning of the early years. As pupils get older, subject curriculums are suitably designed to build on pupils' previous knowledge.

This enables most pupils to develop a broad understanding across the curriculum. Children in the early years acquire the skills and knowledge that they need and are well prepared for Year 1.

In most subjects, teachers deliver the curriculum well.

However, in a small number of subjects, the delivery of the curriculum is not as effective. In these subjects, teachers sometimes do not select appropriate activities to help pupils to learn and remember the important information that they should know.

Teachers use assessment information effectively to check how well pupils are learning.

As a result, they address misconceptions in pupils' understanding. In the main, teachers check that pupils have understood learning before moving on to new ideas and concepts.

The school has prioritised reading from the beginning of the early years.

Pupils read from books that match the sounds that they already know. They enjoy stories read by adults. Most pupils develop into fluent and competent readers.

Staff identify pupils who fall behind in the phonics programme. However, the support that they provide to help pupils to catch up quickly is not as effective as it should be. This is because the school has not provided sufficient training to help staff understand how to address gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge.

Older pupils demonstrate a love of reading. They spoke with confidence about the books that they have read and the authors that they enjoy.

The school identifies pupils with SEND as early as possible.

Staff work with specialist providers to make some adaptations to curriculum delivery so that these pupils can learn well alongside their classmates.

Pupils demonstrate positive behaviour. Lessons are usually calm and purposeful.

Pupils in the mixed-age classes, including in the Nursery class, learn well together. They know that positive behaviour is expected each day. Children in the early years enjoy exploring during purposeful play and become increasingly independent and confident.

Pupils enjoy coming to school. Levels of attendance are high.

The school has thought carefully about how to provide for pupils' personal development.

Pupils, including those with SEND, enjoy access to a wide range of high-quality clubs and activities. These include eco-club, reading, outdoor art and sports clubs. The curriculum enables pupils to learn about relationships, healthy living and the wider world.

Older pupils readily take on leadership roles, including ambassadors in reading, sports and worship.

Members of the governing body are knowledgeable and committed to the school. They are clear about what the school does well and what needs to improve.

The school supports staff well in managing their workload and well-being. Staff are very much a team and are proud to work at 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)

• In some subjects, the school has not ensured that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well. As a result, some activity choices do not help pupils to develop and deepen their knowledge over time. The school should support staff to implement the curriculum as intended.

• The school has not ensured that staff have the expertise to support pupils who struggle to keep up with the phonics programme. As a result, some pupils do not gain the phonics knowledge that they need quickly enough. The school should ensure that teachers are provided with sufficient training to enable them to overcome gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge.