Chattenden Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love school. They enjoy the challenges of the school's curriculum. They have positive attitudes to their learning and take great pride in their work.

Pupils are considerate towards one another. They play together positively during breaktimes. Older pupils organise games for younger pupils and this helps to create a positive atmosphere.

When pupils fall out with one another, this is always sorted out quickly by an adult. Pupils feel valued, cared for and well supported by staff.

Pupils are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles.

They benefit from taking part in a wide range of different sports, including representing the school in competitions. ...Their mental health is promoted well, for example through yoga sessions. Pupils know if they have any worries there are trained staff that they can go and talk to.

Pupils participate in a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities that are designed to meet their interests and needs. Pupils have the opportunity to apply for one of the many leadership roles within the school. They take part in exciting experiences that help to develop their communication and perseverance.

This helps pupils to develop important life skills and attributes. Pupils achieve well, both personally and academically.

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

The school has a culture of high expectations.

The curriculum is ambitious for all pupils. Staff get to know pupils' different abilities and personalities really well. They tailor the school's extra-curricular offer so that all pupils benefit from the rich and varied opportunities on offer, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The school's wider curriculum offer is exceptional. There are extensive opportunities for pupils to develop their individual talents and interests in a wide variety of areas, including sport and music. A carefully planned programme for assemblies teaches pupils about how to stay safe in a range of situations.

It also teaches pupils about the festivals and beliefs of different faiths. The school's careers fair is designed to inspire pupils by introducing them to a range of aspirational careers.

In the vast majority of subjects, the content that pupils will learn is well sequenced, starting from the early years.

This means that when pupils come to learn new things, they are able to build successfully on what they have learned before.

Leaders work closely with staff, providing support and a wide range of different training. Following low key stage 2 outcomes in mathematics in 2023, there was a renewed focus on teaching mathematics in the school's comprehensive professional development programme.

Teachers are knowledgeable and skilled to deliver the curriculum well. They explain new learning clearly, showing pupils precisely what to do and how to do it. Pupils, including those with SEND, achieve well in the vast majority of subjects, including in mathematics.

Teachers plan appropriate tasks for pupils to practise and apply their knowledge. In the early years, children engage in enticing activities both indoors and in the outside area. Adults skilfully support children during their play, promoting rich and varied language.

They help children to learn important knowledge through play. Children are well prepared for Year 1.

Learning to read is a priority.

Children enjoy listening to a wide range of high-quality books in the early years. This ignites a love of books in the children. Strong phonics teaching enables children to make a good start learning the basics for reading.

As pupils move through the school, regular book talk deepens pupils' love of reading. Pupils develop their reading fluency well.

In most subjects, teachers check precisely what pupils have remembered of the curriculum.

They use this information to plan additional activities to help pupils catch up if they fall behind, including in reading. Staff make appropriate adaptations to the curriculum for pupils with SEND. This means that these pupils are fully included in lessons and in all aspects of school life.

Pupils find their lessons interesting. They concentrate and work hard.

In a very small number of subjects, pupils are not yet achieving the ambitious aims of the school's curriculum.

This is because the school is still developing the sequencing of some curriculum content, and how they carefully check what pupils have learned to ensure pupils achieve highly in every subject.

Currently, too many pupils do not attend school regularly enough. Leaders are rigorous in following up on cases of persistent absence.

Because staff know the pupils and their families so well, leaders have targeted relevant support to help these families improve their child's attendance. As a result, overall attendance rates are beginning to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The curriculum sequencing and use of assessment are not yet fully developed in all subjects. This means that pupils are not yet achieving the ambitious aims set by the school across the whole curriculum. The school needs to ensure that the content taught in every subject is sequenced so that learning builds cumulatively and that the assessment practices in all subjects match that of the best.