Colmers Farm Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

There is a strong sense of community at Colmers Farm Primary. Pupils receive a warm and friendly welcome each day from a staff team that know them well.

Routines such as these help pupils settle into their school day. Pupils are respectful and welcoming to visitors.

Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Pupils follow a broad curriculum and enjoy their lessons and time in school. They receive the support that they need to access all the school has to offer.

Pupils understand the school's rules of 'ready, respectful and safe'.

They link these to what they learn... and how they are expected to behave in lessons and with their friends. Pupils understand what bullying is. If bullying happens, staff deal with incidents quickly.

The caring relationships between staff and pupils help pupils to feel safe. They trust staff to look after them.

All staff are determined to provide the very best for all pupils.

They promote and celebrate diversity and make sure pupils feel valued. Pupils play a full part in school life. They can become head pupils or join the school council.

Pupils speak with enthusiasm about these responsibilities.

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

Leaders are passionate about what they want children to learn and experience in school. The curriculum reflects this.

It is ambitious and well sequenced. Teachers implement the curriculum well to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, can access learning and work towards achieving the best outcomes.

Leaders and staff understand the importance of reading.

This is promoted and prioritised throughout the school. Pupils read regularly during the school day. They enjoy their reading books.

There is a real buzz about reading, and pupils are excited to read to adults and talk about their books. A book vending machine in the school library is very popular.

The teaching of early reading starts in Reception.

A well-structured phonics programme is delivered with consistency across year groups. Staff receive regular training and demonstrate strong subject knowledge. Pupils read books that match the sounds they are learning.

Staff regularly check on their knowledge to help them move on, or to offer extra support if needed.

Teachers regularly check and assess pupils' knowledge and understanding. This helps them to address any misunderstandings and plan future teaching.

However, in early years, the children do not always get all the help they need when they are learning to form letters. Furthermore, staff do not consistently address the mistakes that children make. This means that some misconceptions continue, which affects children's early progress in writing.

Children access a well-resourced and purposeful learning environment in the early years. This helps them to engage in learning. They display high levels of attention and curiosity when focusing on their chosen tasks.

The early years curriculum is broad. However, leaders have not planned the specific knowledge and vocabulary that they want children to know. This means children do not build on their knowledge as well as they might.

Leaders and staff have high expectations for pupils' behaviour. In response, pupils show positive attitudes to learning in lessons and most behave well. However, during unstructured times of the day, some pupils find it difficult to meet the high expectations that staff have of them.

Some parents comment negatively about behaviour. Leaders are working hard to address their concerns.

The school has a highly inclusive ethos.

Pupils with SEND are fully included in all aspects of school life. Leaders work with external professionals and agencies to coordinate the best possible support for pupils. Where appropriate, pupils with SEND follow bespoke strategies that support them to progress.

Pupils are able to access high-quality pastoral support. They can visit the 'nest', which is a place where pupils can go to regulate and relax or to talk to adults. This helps pupils to feel listened to and supported.

The provision for pupils' personal development is exceptional. It is at the heart of the school. Leaders provide an extensive range of opportunities and experiences beyond the curriculum.

A personalised award programme offers all pupils the opportunity to build life skills throughout their time at school. For example, pupils can visit a theatre, complete first aid training and carry out helpful jobs in the community, such as litter picking. There are a wide range of extra-curricular clubs available.

These are attended well by pupils.

Leaders at all levels have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas of development. Staff are proud to work at the school.

They feel supported by leaders with their professional development, workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a positive culture of safeguarding.

Leaders prioritise training for staff and this is regularly updated. Staff identify and report any concerns about pupils. Leaders can demonstrate that they take appropriate action to gain the right support.

They work well with families and external agencies to keep pupils safe.

Leaders, supported by the trust, have robust procedures in place for recruitment and dealing with any allegations against adults.Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe in and outside of school.

They learn important safety information through the well-designed personal development curriculum. This includes online safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• At times, some pupils find it difficult to meet leaders' high expectations of behaviour, especially during unstructured times.

Leaders should continue to work alongside staff and pupils to embed a consistent culture of high expectations, including during social times and on the playground. ? In the early years, leaders have not explicitly identified the specific knowledge and vocabulary that they want all children to know and understand. This means that some children do not learn as well as they might.

Leaders should identify the most important knowledge and vocabulary that they want children to learn. They should do this so that all children get the best possible start. ? Support for early handwriting is not as effective as it could be.

Staff do not consistently address misconceptions or mistakes in writing. This means that some pupils do not form their letters correctly and do not establish the most effective writing habits. Leaders should ensure that staff teach pupils to develop correct letter formation and effective writing habits.

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