Canon Johnson CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils comment that they are happy to come to school because of the warm welcome they receive from their teachers every morning. They say that all staff are friendly. Pupils who join the school at different times of the year are quickly made to feel at home.

Pupils comment that they feel safe because leaders and staff listen to them if they have a problem. Bullying is rare. Should it happen, leaders resolve it quickly.

Staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils behave well. They are polite to adults and to each other.

In lessons, they are keen to learn. They follow teachers' 'silent signals' without hesitation. In the playground, they enjoy usi...ng the wide range of newly installed play equipment.

Leaders and staff want all pupils to succeed, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils try hard to live up to these high expectations. They enjoy their lessons and achieve well.

Pupils benefit from many opportunities to enrich their learning. All year groups, including children in Nursery and Reception, visit places in the locality to broaden their learning. For Year 6 pupils, the highlight of the spring term was a residential visit to an activity centre in Yorkshire.

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

Over recent years, with the support of the trust, leaders have developed a curriculum that is broad and ambitious. The curriculum provides pupils with strong foundations in mathematics, reading and writing. Leaders have thought carefully about the wider curriculum so that it meets the needs of their pupils and is relevant to their diverse backgrounds.

They have a secure understanding of what children in the early years need to know so that they are prepared for the key stage 1 curriculum.

Leaders have designed most subject curriculums well so that pupils build logically on what they have learned before. However, in a few subjects, they have not defined in sufficient detail the content they want pupils to learn.

As a result, in these subjects, pupils do not acquire in depth some of the essential knowledge and skills they need for their future learning.

In most lessons, teachers implement the curriculum well. Children in the Nursery and Reception years benefit from well-thought-through approaches to developing their speech, vocabulary and understanding of numbers.

Across the school, teachers have strong subject knowledge. However, in a few subjects, they have not thought carefully enough about the best way to teach important ideas or knowledge. This means that, sometimes, pupils leave these lessons with only a partial understanding of what the teacher wants them to know and remember.

Teachers know their pupils well. They circulate around their classrooms to check regularly that each pupil understands what they have taught. Pupils listen carefully to the advice that staff give them and, in most cases, respond by improving their work.

Staff provide effective support for any pupils who find learning difficult.

Reading is a priority across the school. Leaders comment that their aim is to teach pupils to read and then to keep them reading regularly and often.

They have ensured that there is a wide range of enjoyable, high-quality fiction and non-fiction books for pupils to read. Pupils comment that they enjoy reading and read frequently. Leaders, with the support of the trust, have developed an effective phonics curriculum so that pupils, including those with SEND, learn to read with fluency and accuracy.

Staff are quick to spot those pupils who struggle to read. Well-trained staff provide support to help them keep up with their peers.

Leaders and governors have high aspirations for pupils with SEND.

Leaders identify the needs of these pupils accurately. Staff are confident in using the information that they provide to help pupils with SEND to learn well. These pupils follow all aspects of the curriculum, including the activities, visits and residential trips that the school has to offer.

Across the school, pupils behave well. They listen carefully and follow the instructions of their teachers. They know the rewards and sanctions systems well.

They say they enjoy winning rewards, which are then recognised in celebration assemblies every Friday. In the early years, children participate enthusiastically in the well-designed activities prepared by their teachers. They make good use of the indoor and outdoor learning areas.

Leaders take every opportunity to enable pupils to develop as responsible citizens. They do this through a well-designed personal development programme. For example, pupils learn how to keep healthy.

They learn about different faiths. There are plenty of enrichment opportunities and after-school clubs, such as sports clubs. Pupils learn about democracy through participation in the student council.

Trustees and governors have a strong understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the school. They do not hesitate to act decisively if they believe such action is in the best interest of the school. They use their different areas of expertise to support and challenge leaders.

Leaders take staff's workload and well-being into account when making decisions. Staff appreciate the professional development opportunities offered by the trust. They like the way that leaders listen to them and find solutions to problems they may face.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.Leaders ensure that staff undertake regular training so that they remain alert to signs that might indicate that a pupil is at risk of harm. Staff follow clear procedures to report any concerns.

Leaders follow these up promptly. The safeguarding team works well with outside agencies to obtain support for vulnerable pupils and their families.

Pupils learn about how to keep themselves safe when online and in the community.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, leaders have not defined carefully enough the content that they want pupils to learn. As a result, in these subjects, pupils do not learn in sufficient depth some of the essential knowledge and skills they need for their future learning. In these subjects, leaders should ensure that they set out in greater detail the content they want pupils to learn to ensure that pupils know and remember the most important aspects of the curriculum.

• In a few subjects, teachers have not thought carefully enough about the most appropriate ways in which to teach the subject content. As a result, pupils do not develop a full understanding of some of the most important knowledge they need for their future learning. Leaders should ensure that they support teachers in identifying the most appropriate ways to teach subject content so that pupils understand fully the knowledge crucial to their future learning.