Bythams Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school has seen great change since the last inspection.

Pupils are benefiting from the improvements that new leaders have brought about. However, the quality of education that pupils receive still needs further improvement.

Pupils behave well.

They are polite and considerate. They show each other kindness and respect. Pupils benefit from highly effective pastoral care.

They particularly value the support they receive within the 'thrive hive'. Pupils said: 'We can go to the hive to seek support. It is our time for self-regulation.

We can then get on with our learning.'

Pupils said that bullying is rare. Any issues that do arise... are resolved quickly and effectively.

Pupils said that staff help them to 'feel safe and comforted'.

Pupils play within a beautiful outdoor space. Pupils take part in a range of outdoor activities as part of their learning in the forest.

They enjoy off-site trips and events, including the whole-school visit to the pantomime in the local area. They take part in activities in the community.

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

The curriculum reflects the ambition of the national curriculum.

Some subjects are well planned. In mathematics, for example, the curriculum is well structured. It is designed to ensure that pupils understand number and can solve mathematical problems.

Pupils learn to use the correct mathematical vocabulary. In some foundation subjects, curriculum planning is in the initial stages. These subjects are not planned to allow pupils to build on previous learning and remember knowledge long term.

This hinders some pupils' achievement, particularly the most able pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

There is a well-planned early reading curriculum in place. Staff have received effective support from the local English hub.

The teaching of this curriculum is improving. Pupils begin to learn to read as soon as they enter the school. Reading books match the sounds that pupils are learning.

Pupils receive support if they need it. The 'reading corridor' ensures that pupils are surrounded by books to whet their appetite. Pupils and their families value the 'book swop'.

The school promotes pupils' love of reading very well.

The provision for pupils with SEND has improved. The special educational needs coordinator is knowledgeable and skilled.

Pupils who have additional needs are swiftly identified. The school works with external agencies to ensure that pupils receive the support they need. Committed teaching assistants adapt the provision to help pupils with SEND access the curriculum in some subjects, such as English and mathematics.

However, in some subjects, the curriculum is not adapted to help pupils with SEND achieve as well as they could.The school works hard to support pupils to attend regularly. For example, it offers a daily breakfast club to help prepare pupils for their day.

The school provides support to families to overcome barriers to regular attendance. However, some pupils do not attend school regularly enough. Although improving, pupils' attendance rightly remains a school priority.

Pupils benefit from a well-planned personal, social, health education (PSHE) curriculum. The school's values inform the schools work. Pupils are rewarded for exhibiting these values within the school and the community.

They enjoy local initiatives such as improving the 'spinney'. School assemblies provide opportunities for pupils to share 'how and wow' moments. They discuss and debate in a meaningful way.

Since the previous inspection, there have been significant changes to leadership and governance. Interim leadership arrangements have stabilised the school. Governance has improved but is not yet fully effective.

The school has benefited from the support of the teaching school hubs and the local authority.

Staff show great commitment. They are proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The school has a positive culture of safety and welfare. Pupils feel safe.

They have staff to turn to if they need support. External agencies support pupils who are particularly vulnerable. However, leaders do not always record all of the action that has been taken to keep pupils safe.

This means that records are not always fully accurate.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• There is a strong culture of safeguarding and welfare. Pupils feel safe and well cared for.

However, safeguarding records do not consistently reflect the actions taken to keep pupils safe. The school must ensure that safeguarding records reflect all the actions taken to keep pupils safe. ? The quality of curriculum planning, adaptation and implementation is inconsistent.

It is stronger in some subjects than in others. This hinders some pupils' achievement, particularly the most able pupils and pupils with SEND. The school must ensure that an ambitious, well-planned and sequenced curriculum is in place across all subjects.

The school must make sure that the curriculum in all subjects is adapted and implemented effectively so that all pupils, including pupils with SEND and the most able pupils, achieve as well as they should. Governance has improved significantly but is not yet fully effective. The school should ensure that the plans to improve governance are enacted promptly so that the governing body holds leaders to account effectively.

• Although improving, some pupils' absence is too high. Some pupils, including vulnerable pupils, are missing their education. The school should continue the work to ensure that persistent absence, particularly of vulnerable pupils, reduces further.

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