Cheriton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to this small village school. This is a nurturing school that has high aspirations for pupils, including those who are disadvantaged.

Pupils flourish academically, socially and emotionally. Adults take great care of pupils. There is a strong sense of belonging and being a part of a community.

There are high expectations for behaviour, which adults and pupils all know and understand. Behaviour in class is exemplary. Pupils are polite to adults, peers and visitors.

They listen to each other and respectfully remind each other not to speak at the same time. Pupils are keen to help adults and each other. Pupils move around the classroom and the ...school quietly and calmly.

The school's values of kindness, ambition, collaboration, respect, well-being, responsibility and determination link to every aspect of school life. Pupils know these values and are proud to earn house points when they demonstrate them in school. For example, Year 6 pupils took responsibility for organising and supporting younger pupils during a pancake race.

Pupils enjoy the range of clubs available and are keen to start up their own lunchtime clubs, such as origami or book clubs.

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

Since the previous inspection, the school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum. This starts in the early years and builds progressively through the school.

In all subjects, the school has identified the important knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn, and when they need to learn them. Teachers are well trained, have strong subject knowledge and present information clearly. The school has introduced systems to enable teachers to understand what pupils have learned previously in English, mathematics and science.

However, in some other subjects, the school's checks on what pupils understand are not as effective. This means that pupils do not achieve as well as they could in some subjects.

The school fosters a genuine love of reading.

Pupils have the opportunity to read a wide variety of high-quality texts. As soon as children start school, they begin learning the sounds that letters make. Pupils at the early stages of learning to read are given books that match the sounds that they know.

Those who fall behind are quickly identified. They receive extra support that helps them get back on track.

The school knows the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well.

There are effective procedures in place to identify any barriers to learning that these pupils may have. Teachers are skilled in adapting tasks to help these pupils to access the same learning as their peers. The school checks regularly that pupils' next steps are achieved.

As a result, pupils with SEND make strong progress through the curriculum.

Pupils' attitudes to learning are exceptional. They are eager to learn.

In lessons, pupils are engaged, listen attentively to adults and concentrate for sustained periods of time. This includes children in the Reception class, who carefully followed picture instructions to make play dough, with limited support from adults. Pupils are keen to answer questions and they work well with each other.

Pupils take pride in their work, and this is evident in the high-quality work that they produce. The school sets high expectations for pupils' attendance and works well with parents and carers to maintain the current high levels.

Pupils' personal development is promoted well.

They learn how to keep themselves safe online as well as in the community. Year 6 pupils can talk about the differences between people in an age-appropriate manner. They learn to recognise healthy relationships and learn about the changes that happen to their bodies as they get older.

Pupils learn to become respectful future citizens by studying the fundamental British values, such as the importance of tolerance. Older pupils visit different places of worship to deepen their understanding of other faiths and religions.

Governors challenge the school appropriately and use their experience to support the school effectively.

Staff value the new procedures and strong support they receive to manage their workload effectively. Staff and governors are very proud to be a part of this school community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In foundation subjects, the school's assessment strategies are not effective enough in supporting teachers to understand what pupils know and remember over time. As a result, some pupils are not always ready for the next steps in their learning. The school should ensure that assessment strategies are equally effective across all subjects.