Beer Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy learning a range of subjects. Pupils are curious about the world around them.

They have many opportunities to talk about their ideas. The school provides a safe, harmonious environment for pupils to express their views.

Through the curriculum, pupils learn how to be respectful and kind.

The school prepares pupils well to be valued citizens of modern Britain. Children in the Reception class learn the routines of school very well. They share, take turns and forge strong relationships.

Pupils are motivated to learn the exciting curriculum that the school has created. As a result, pupils behave well, both in class and around the school. Pupi...ls state that bullying is rare, but that staff resolve it if it occurs.

Pupils learn about the importance of fundamental British values, such as democracy and freedom of speech. For example, pupils in Years 5 and 6 created posters about topical issues, such as climate change.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive in the school because of well-tailored approaches that support them to learn successfully.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school. One parent's view echoed that of many others when they said, 'The school and its staff have been nothing but amazing.'

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

The school has worked hard to revise the curriculum so that all pupils learn successfully.

Staff, parents and pupils share the school's vision for pupils to flourish academically, socially and emotionally. From Reception to Year 6, most pupils build on their subject knowledge to develop more complex understanding. For example, in history, pupils learn about events that have shaped people's lives, both locally and nationally.

However, in some subjects, staff do not adapt the curriculum sufficiently well. For example, in mathematics, some pupils do not have secure understanding of concepts, such as multiplication, before they move on to more challenging problems.

From Reception to key stage 1, pupils engage positively when they learn how to read.

In Reception, children respond extremely well to stories. Through careful planning, pupils are immersed in the imaginary worlds of the stories that they read. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 learn to read with fluency and understanding.

Staff are knowledgeable about the early reading programme. They support pupils to read regularly and listen to a breadth of texts.

Older pupils are eager readers.

They learn how authors create characters, settings and themes which, in turn, helps them to craft their writing. They learn how to select the most appropriate language to include in their own compositions. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) develop strong reading and writing knowledge through bespoke support.

In the Reception class, children excel in their learning. They are very well prepared for key stage 1. The curriculum is rich in its use of language, so that all children develop strong speech and language skills.

Children learn about the world around them in depth. For example, children understand the scientific process involved in the melting of ice with warm water. Children develop very strong fine motor skills through well-structured activities, such as cooking with mud to make 'mustard and cheese'.

Pupils attend school regularly. They enrich their knowledge of the curriculum through trips to places, such as Charmouth, to learn about fossils. The school is at the heart of the village and pupils develop their understanding of the area well.

For instance, they visit the church and the beach regularly. Pupils are overwhelmingly positive about the range of clubs they can join, such as karate and football.

Governors and the trust know the school well and have supported the school's improvement journey.

Governors gather a breadth of information about the school to pose challenging questions of school leaders. Staff are overwhelmingly proud to work at the school and feel that leaders are mindful of their workload and well-being.

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 teaching of the curriculum is not adapted well enough to pupils' needs and starting points. Where this is the case, pupils do not learn with as much success and confidence as they do in other subjects. The trust and the school should ensure that teaching is suitably adapted so that all pupils learn well.

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