Coningsby St Michael’s Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are polite and welcoming at this school. They enjoy attending and have an enthusiasm for learning.

As one pupil said, 'This school has a special energy.'

Teachers have high expectations of pupils. There are positive relationships between teachers and pupils.

Older pupils look out for the younger ones. Children in the early years benefit from the attention they receive from adults. Pupils feel safe and happy in this caring environment.

The support the school provides for service children is a strength. Leaders ensure that they regularly check on these pupils. They communicate with parents and carers who might be abroad, including emailing phot...ographs of their children.

Pupils benefit from sharing school experiences, such as sports day, with parents who cannot be there in person. Workshops for 'little troopers' and a 'military kids club' also help support and celebrate these pupils.

All pupils have an opportunity to develop their ability to work in a team and build resilience through a planned outdoor curriculum.

They undertake much of this in the 'magical mystical garden'. This is an area of the school dedicated to outdoor learning and is home to the school goats 'Jammy' and 'Dodger'.

Pupils know what bullying is.

They are confident in reporting anything that they would consider to be bullying as they know staff will deal with it very quickly.

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

Leaders have strengthened the quality of education. They have given subject leaders time to ensure that each subject is well planned across every year group.

Subject leaders have ensured that teachers understand the important knowledge that pupils should know and remember in each subject. The curriculum is broad and ambitious for all pupils.

Teachers have good subject knowledge.

This enables them to present the most important knowledge to pupils clearly so that they understand it. Leaders have made sure there are lots of opportunities for professional development so teachers become better at helping pupils learn. Leaders check that teachers use agreed approaches to deliver the curriculum.

For example, teachers give immediate attention to the pupils who need it most. This particularly supports pupils with special educational needs/and or disabilities (SEND) to achieve.

Teachers do not use assessment consistently.

In some subjects, teachers check that pupils have remembered the most important knowledge before they move on. In other subjects, teachers do not check precisely enough what pupils know, leaving some with gaps in their knowledge.

All classroom staff are trained to teach pupils to read using a consistent approach.

Children start to learn the sounds that letters make as soon as they begin in Reception. The early start and consistent approach enable pupils to become better and more fluent readers. Teachers assess pupils' ability to read regularly.

When they discover that a pupil is struggling, they swiftly intervene and provide help to ensure that these pupils keep up with everyone else. Pupils said that they love reading. Some of them buy the books that they have enjoyed reading in class.

Pupils can explain how class readers, such as 'The Boy at the Back of the Class', allow them to develop morally and be more aware of social issues.

Leaders have ensured there is an emphasis on communication and personal and social development in the early years. Teachers focus on making sure that children use and understand identified vocabulary.

Manners, respect and being polite are all modelled. Children in the early years are well prepared for key stage 1.

The behaviour in lessons and around the school is calm.

Teachers support pupils at the beginning of the day if they need more time to settle. Staff work with pupils to improve their behaviour or help them express their emotions so that the pupils can focus on learning. Teachers nominate 'superstars' and 'values champions' every week.

Pupils are proud to receive this recognition in the Friday celebration assembly.

Pastoral support for pupils is strong. Pupils know that 'the nest' is a safe place where they can talk to a grown-up about how they are feeling.

Pupils enjoy attending a wide range of clubs. This includes specific clubs at lunchtime for pupils who cannot attend after school.

Staff are proud to work at the school and the majority are of the opinion that leaders consider their workload and well-being.

Leaders do not yet communicate well enough with all parents about the positive work that is taking place to support pupils at this school.

Leaders from the trust work in partnership with school leaders to further improve the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding at this school. All staff fully understand what they must do when they have a concern about a pupil's safety or welfare. They bring these to the attention of the designated safeguarding leads.

Leaders maintain up-to-date records of safeguarding concerns and the actions taken to safeguard pupils. They work closely with external agencies to support the most vulnerable pupils and families.

Pupils all know they can talk to teachers or pastoral staff if they have a worry or a problem.

Governors and trust executives monitor and regularly check the school's safeguarding procedures.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some foundation subjects, there is not yet a consistent approach to how teachers assess what pupils know and remember. Some pupils are left with gaps in their knowledge as a result.

Leaders should ensure that there is an effective approach to assessment in each subject that enables teachers to check what pupils have learned and fill gaps in pupils' knowledge. ? Some parents feel that leaders do not keep them informed well enough about how their children are doing or issues they have raised. Leaders need to ensure that they keep parents up to date with information about the work they are doing and the support they are giving pupils.

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