Crabtree Farm Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend this friendly school where everyone is welcome. The warm and caring environment that the school provides creates a safe space for pupils to flourish. Pupils benefit from kind and supportive relationships with staff.

They are happy and confident learners.

The school's successful work to embed high standards of behaviour means that pupils feel safe. Pupils enjoy being in the calm setting that the school provides.

They understand the school rules and they are eager to follow them. Pupils strive to be 'Crabtree Superstars' and earn house points for their team. One pupil, typical of many, said, 'We have lots of lovely teachers.

...They all help us to shine in our own way.'

The school has high expectations of pupils' achievement. Pupils live up to these expectations.

They listen carefully and work hard during lessons. The ethos of 'every child, every chance, every day' is evident throughout the school.

The school staff know pupils and their families well.

Parents and carers are just as important as the pupils here. There is a real 'family feel' to this school. Everyone is part of this school community, including Bob and Fred, the school dogs.

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

The school's curriculum is broad and ambitious. It meets the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), well. In response to historically low outcomes, the school has decisively improved the curriculum.

The subject curriculums have been carefully sequenced so that they build on the strong start that children enjoy in the early years. The school has benefited from external support to strengthen the curriculums in reading, writing and mathematics.

The school has ensured that, in most subjects, pupils are introduced to new learning in small, logical steps.

Pupils build on what they have learned in previous lessons. In a small number of subjects, this is not as precisely the case as it is in most. Sometimes, pupils can discuss the activity that they have undertaken, but they are less secure in the knowledge that they should have learned.

Reading is a top priority in this school. Staff spark and develop pupils' love of reading. The school ensures that phonics teaching is systematic.

Children begin learning phonics as soon as they join the school in the early years. Staff ensure that the books that pupils read closely match the sounds that they know. This helps pupils to read with fluency and confidence.

The school ensures that any pupils who are at risk of not keeping up in reading receive appropriate help to catch up with their peers.

As pupils move into key stage 2, they read a wide range of high-quality texts from the well-stocked reading areas. The school inspires pupils to read often.

Pupils enjoy reading. They are proud to receive reading badges for their efforts.

Pupils' behaviour is consistently good across the school.

In the early years, children play happily and learn essential behaviour skills, such as how to work together. In lessons, staff clearly link their expectations to the school's values, which they model well. These are supported by clear and embedded routines.

Rates of absence are currently too high, and this is a barrier to some pupils' learning. Leaders know this and have made considerable efforts to try and address it. However, these have not been successful enough, and too many pupils are persistently absent.

Pupils with SEND flourish under the care and guidance of the school. Their needs are identified well. Pupils receive appropriate help and support so they can mostly learn the same curriculum as their friends.

They enjoy all the school has to offer, both academically and socially.

Pupils benefit from a wide variety of opportunities to be active and responsible citizens. They make a strong contribution to school life.

Pupils are proud to be peer supporters, school councillors and eco warriors. The school encourages pupils to challenge stereotypes and celebrate diversity. For example, pupils learn to play football with a local women's professional football team.

Pupils learn about different faiths, cultures and values, such as respect and democracy. They have time to reflect on their own beliefs. All these experiences prepare pupils well for life in modern British society.

Governors have a clear and ambitious vision for the school. They support and challenge the work of the school well. Staff value the time and training that they receive so that they can carry out their roles with confidence.

They are proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, it is not clear in lessons what pupils should learn.

The most important knowledge or concepts are not always made explicit. When this is the case, some pupils do not reliably recall the most important knowledge. Leaders should continue to refine the curriculum so that teachers know exactly what they want pupils to learn and remember in these subjects.

The proportion of pupils who are regularly absent from school is too high. As a result, they miss too much learning and do not achieve as well as they could. The school should continue to work with pupils and their families to reinforce attendance expectations and to make sure that pupils attend school regularly, so that they can maximise their achievement.

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