Bersted Green Primary School, Bognor Regis

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school's ambition for all pupils to achieve well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), is clear.

However, pupils do not achieve as well as they should because the curriculum is not yet delivered effectively across key stages 1 and 2. Curriculum delivery is stronger in the early years.Pupils are happy and secure in this friendly and welcoming school.

The school is the centre of the local community where everyone is welcome. Pupils benefit from many leadership opportunities such as being 'cluck carers', who look after the school's chickens. Opportunities such as regular talks with the local police officer help pupils to engage w...ith their community and understand the difference they can make to others.

The school's caring and kind atmosphere contributes strongly to pupils' well-being and their enjoyment of school. Staff encourage pupils to 'learn together' to grow as people and learners. Most pupils behave well and show kindness and empathy to each other.

One said, representing the views of many, 'Everyone can have a different view and that is great.' Pupils feel safe and well cared for in school. They say that staff help them when they have any concerns.

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

The school has tackled weaknesses in provision with commitment and growing success. However, there is more work to do to ensure that the curriculum is implemented effectively from early years to Year 6.The curriculum is now ambitious and well sequenced.

Staff deliver content clearly. Activities are usually well matched to help pupils learn the planned curriculum. However, staff do not always check carefully enough that pupils have remembered the most important knowledge taught.

This means that some pupils, including pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, have gaps in their knowledge. As a result, pupils achieve less well than they should.Pupils make a strong start to the school in Reception.

Staff in the early years build pupils' communication and language skills well. They do this through detailed modelling. Carefully crafted opportunities help pupils to practise what has been modelled.

For example, snack time is used so pupils can talk to an adult about the snacks. The school's phonics programme is well organised and provides the content required to support pupils' reading. However, the programme has not been delivered rigorously enough over time.

As a result, pupils are not as ready for the next stage in their learning as they need to be. Positive changes have been made to improve phonics teaching. The school now has high expectations of pupils and there is daily support for pupils who need extra help.

This is having a positive impact with more pupils in Year 1 achieving well in reading. Staff carefully model to pupils how to use their reading knowledge to develop their handwriting and spelling. Pupils are writing with more confidence and accuracy.

This includes pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils.Provision for pupils with SEND is inconsistent. The school does not always identify individual needs precisely enough.

This means that some of the adaptations made for these pupils do not help them learn the intended curriculum. For example, in mathematics, pupils do not always practise the key vocabulary to help them understand what is being taught. Therefore, achievement is not as strong as it should be for some of these pupils.

Pupils behave well, both in class and during social times. When pupils do become distracted, teachers refocus them, enabling their learning to remain purposeful. Most pupils have positive attitudes to learning and these develop well in the early years.

Staff in the Reception class ensure that pupils learn the routines of the school. This means pupils are ready for Year 1. The school carefully tracks the attendance of pupils.

Staff support families of pupils whose attendance is low, with compassion and tenacity. This has helped pupils' attendance improve strongly over time.The provision for pupils' personal development is a strength in the school.

Pupils benefit from well-considered opportunities outside of the curriculum. They learn the skills of effective leadership through roles such as eco-warriors and play leaders. As a result, pupils become confident and thoughtful citizens.

Through the curriculum, pupils also gain an in-depth knowledge of current issues such as equality. Pupils display a deep understanding of diversity through the way that they embrace each other's differences.The school has the ambition and capacity to improve.

Leaders have accurately identified the areas in need of rapid improvement. The work in these areas has started and is making a difference. Staff well-being and workload are carefully considered before any change is made.

The school has acted decisively to address weaknesses in governance. Consequently, governors now provide more effective challenge to leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Staff do not always use assessment well enough to check what pupils have remembered of the taught curriculum. This means that pupils have gaps in their learning. The school should support staff to routinely check pupils' understanding of the key content and then use this information to inform future teaching so that gaps in learning and misconceptions are swiftly addressed.

• The school does not identify the specific needs of some pupils with SEND as quickly as possible and adapt tasks to these needs. Therefore, these pupils do not always get the support they need. The school should continue with its plans to improve this so that pupils with SEND receive the additional support they need to achieve well.

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