Cambo First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a caring, nurturing school at the heart of a rural community. The school has a strong sense of family and inclusion. Pupils are safe and well cared for.

They say that bullying is not a problem. Pupils know that if bullying did happen, adults deal with it quickly. One parent summed up the views of many by saying that, 'Everyone at the school brings care and creativity to the work they do.'



The school has high expectations of all pupils. Pupils are well supported within their mixed-age classrooms. As a result, they achieve well.

This is particularly the case in reading and mathematics. The school is working to develop some subjects to further... strengthen pupils' achievement.

Pupils enjoy a range of leadership responsibilities.

For example, they are elected to become school councillors or eco-councillors. Pupils can suggest extra-curricular clubs. They organise and lead these.

The school gives pupils opportunities to visit cities, such as London and Newcastle. This helps to develop pupils' understanding of the world around them. The school has formed strong relationships with parents through events, such as the weekly coffee morning.

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

The school promotes a love of reading. Adults choose engaging books for pupils to read and listen to. Pupils can talk about their favourite authors and books.

The school has a therapy dog, who is used to encourage younger pupils to read.Staff are trained well in how to teach phonics. The phonics programme begins as soon as children start in Reception.

Teachers ensure that the books pupils read align with the sounds that they have been taught. Staff provide opportunities for children to re-read sentences to practise their fluency. Pupils become fluent and accurate readers.

Most subjects have a coherently planned and well-sequenced curriculum. The school has worked with a local partnership to ensure that the curriculum meets the needs of all pupils and prepares them well for the next stage of their education. The school is working to strengthen the curriculum in some subjects.

In these subjects, pupils occasionally complete tasks that do not closely match the intended learning of the lesson. As a result, sometimes, pupils' knowledge does not build and deepen over time as well as it could.

The curriculum in early years is well planned and sequenced.

The school considers how to ensure that children are prepared for Year 1. Adults model the use of language effectively. Children enjoy learning through a mixture of play and more formal learning.

Adults support children well. For example, they teach them to use an appropriate tri-pod pencil grip.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported effectively to access the curriculum.

The school works with external agencies, such as speech and language services, for additional support where necessary. Teachers closely monitor the progress that pupils with SEND make towards their learning targets and they update these regularly.

The school has a well-structured curriculum for personal, social, health and economic education.

This ensures that pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of the protected characteristics. For example, pupils can talk about different types of family structure. Pupils learn about diversity.

They take part in events, such as 'show racism the red card.' They understand that everyone should be treated equally. The school provides opportunities for pupils to interact with the local community.

The school encourages pupils to be individuals. Pupils are confident to speak out and ask questions. They learn to collaborate, discuss and share their ideas with others.

As a result, they are excited and enthusiastic learners. Teachers add pupils to the 'proud cloud' to celebrate their successes. Many pupils behave very well.

However, a small minority of pupils need frequent reminders about how to behave during lessons.

The governing body fulfils its statutory responsibilities. This includes its duties regarding safeguarding the welfare of pupils.

Governors complete an annual equalities review, alongside school leaders. Leaders, including governors and the local authority, make checks on the impact of the curriculum in the school.

The school considers staff workload and well-being.

Staff appreciate this. They value the time that leaders give them to work on important tasks as a team. As a result, staff are proud to work at Cambo First School.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff know how to refer any concerns about pupils' well-being or those who may be at risk of harm. The school takes action to keep pupils safe.

However, some minor improvements need to be made to strengthen written record-keeping. This does not have an immediate impact on the safety of pupils.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school's curriculum is not fully developed for all foundation subjects.

Sometimes, learning activities do not secure pupils' understanding of key knowledge. This means that occasionally, pupils do not build on prior learning or make connections between concepts taught. The school should continue to develop their curriculum, so that pupils know more and remember more over time.

The school does not routinely keep written records of low-level concerns that have been identified by staff in relation to safeguarding. This means that sometimes there is not a clear chronology of the actions taken by the school. The school should ensure that low-level concerns are recorded in writing as well as being reported verbally.

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