Claytons Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are cared for and well supported at this nurturing village school.

They talk confidently about values such as resilience, ambition and perseverance. When asked to describe what ambition means, one pupil shared: 'It is when you reach for the stars and don't let anything stop you'. This positive approach starts from the beginning of school in Nursery and Reception.

It is particularly strong in the school's specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In the early years, pupils settle quickly into school life and develop strong relationships with the staff team. Staff recognise and encourage pupils' positive a...ttitudes to learning.

Staff are proud to highlight pupils' successes inside and outside of the classroom.

Pupils feel safe and know how to keep themselves safe, including when online. Older pupils say that the curriculum helps them feel prepared for when they move on to their next school in Year 7.

For example, pupils are taught how to manage peer pressure and are prepared for their time at secondary school. Pupils are kind and considerate towards each other. They play happily on the playground and are respectful in the school hall at lunchtimes and when moving around the school.

Pupils help to create a highly inclusive and respectful school culture.

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

Leaders are passionate about success for all pupils. Governors are focused and committed to help all pupils to thrive.

Leaders, including governors, know the school's strengths and areas for development. They are considerate of staff workload and well-being, taking a proactive approach through surveys and visits that are recognised and appreciated across the staff team. Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum which is planned and adapted to meet the needs of all pupils, including pupils with SEND.

Where subjects have been a focus of staff training, such as for mathematics and early reading, staff are clear about what needs to be taught and how lessons connect. Teachers have high expectations. In subjects such as mathematics, lessons help to build concepts that are matched to leaders' curriculum plans.

However, in some subjects, leaders have not yet identified the precise knowledge and vocabulary that they want pupils to learn. This means that pupils are not always achieving as well as they could.

Pupils with SEND achieve well.

The special educational needs coordinator works closely with parents, staff and pupils. Where needed, staff co-ordinate support with specialist services such as speech and language therapy. Pupils with SEND are identified and supported quickly.

There is an increasing number of pupils with SEND who join the school. This means there needs to be a range of precise adaptations to the curriculum. When plans are developed for these pupils, they are not always implemented consistently effectively.

There are a small number of pupils with SEND who could do even better, therefore.

Pupils learn to read well, particularly in the early years. Leaders have introduced a new phonics scheme and are already seeing a positive impact on pupils' progress.

Reading books are matched to the sounds that pupils are learning. Staff check how well pupils are learning phonics. They make sure that there is support in place if any pupils fall behind and need to catch up.

Reading for pleasure is promoted well across the school. Staff read a range of books to pupils daily to inspire a love of reading. Pupils talk confidently about their learning.

They are excited to share what they know and remember. Older pupils can link subjects to professions outside of school such as in mathematics when one pupil shared, 'if you want to be an architect you need to know how to do measurements'.

Pupils have a wide range of opportunities to develop their talents and interests.

They enjoy learning musical instruments and taking part in sports clubs and activities such as football, netball and athletics. Pupils learn about how to stay physically and mentally healthy, including learning about healthy eating. Pupils also enjoy the many trips and celebration days such as a visit to Woolley Firs Environmental Education Centre and 'Harry Potter day'.

Pupils behave well. Low-level disruption is rare. If any pupils do find learning difficult, staff act quickly, and pupils respond appropriately.

A small number of pupils need extra support for their behaviour at times. However, support from adults is not always consistent and in line with leaders' expectations. This is something that leaders have identified and are already beginning to address.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders, including governors, are highly knowledgeable about safeguarding and maintain an 'it could happen here' approach. They make appropriate checks and complete training which helps them to ensure safeguarding is a priority for all staff at the school.

Any concerns are reported and responded to quickly so that leaders get support for pupils, including involving other agencies where needed. Staff access appropriate training. They use the curriculum effectively to teach pupils about how to stay safe and manage risks outside of school such as the potential harm of social media and cyberbullying.

Record keeping is detailed and gives leaders the information they need to act quickly and effectively.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, leaders have not clearly identified the precise knowledge and key vocabulary that pupils need to learn. This means that some pupils could achieve even better if they build knowledge and link their learning to the lessons that they have done already.

Leaders should ensure that these subjects include precise cumulative knowledge and vocabulary and that this is taught consistently well so that all pupils know and remember more. Leaders accurately identify pupils with SEND and ensure that plans are in place that match to pupils' needs. However, the provision some pupils receive in class does not always match what is set out in their plans.

Leaders need to ensure that staff get the support and training they need so they can implement plans for pupils with SEND in the classroom successfully and consistently. ? Although behaviour incidents are uncommon, a very small minority of pupils do not always behave well towards adults in the school. Leaders need to continue to review and embed strong, shared behaviour management systems that are applied consistently well across the staff team so that all staff feel supported and are able to respond to incidents in consistent ways, following leaders' expectations.

Also at this postcode