Dagnall VA Church of England School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Dagnall VA Church of England School is a happy and inclusive place to be. The school has been through a period of change. Leaders have ensured that the school is one community and works together to improve further.

Pupils exude warmth and kindness. They talk confidently about how they live the school motto of 'like trees, we grow and keep on bearing fruit'. The school teaches pupils to recognise their emotions and understand their impact on others.

As a result, pupils solve most playground disagreements themselves.

Pupils throughout the school display a love of reading. They talk animatedly about the wide range of books that they have read and why they are so... enjoyable and thought provoking.

One pupil noted, 'This book makes me realise that, whatever we look like on the inside, we all matter.'

The school's high expectations are mirrored by pupils. They behave well in lessons and show an enthusiasm for learning.

In the early years, children play cooperatively, sharing resources with each other. Pupils love recognition in the 'golden' book for their efforts in their learning or the way they have treated others.

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

The school has taken decisive action to improve the curriculum.

There is a clear ambition for all pupils. Planning across all subjects identifies the important knowledge pupils need to know and remember. However, in some subjects, pupils are not always able to recall previously taught knowledge.

Teachers assess pupils' understanding well within lessons. They identify and address any mistakes pupils make or misunderstandings that they have. However, in some subjects, teachers do not check that pupils have the prior knowledge that they need to understand new learning in full.

This means they achieve less well in these subjects.As soon as children start in the early years, they learn that adults support them well in developing the way that they communicate with others. Pupils routinely discuss their learning with each other.

The school quickly identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Activities are usually well matched to pupils' needs. Adaptations in lessons ensure that all pupils with SEND access the same curriculum as their peers.

As a result, pupils with SEND achieve well.The development of reading is prioritised. Staff celebrate books and their authors.

This starts in the Nursery Year and continues throughout the school. Pupils understand texts with increasing complexity and from diverse cultures. They treasure story time, where adults bring book characters to life.

Pupils read widely and often. The phonics programme helps pupils to become fluent readers. Extra daily practice supports pupils to learn the sounds that they need to become fluent readers.

No time is wasted in the early years. Children are highly engaged in their learning. Staff expertly use questioning to deepen pupils' thinking about what they are doing.

Children learn to share and take turns in a collaborative way. Carefully designed activities and resources help children develop language and communication skills. Staff use stories and nursery rhymes to support this skilfully.

Pupils behave well. Staff consistently apply the school routines and procedures, based around their three golden rules. The school has robust systems in place to ensure that pupils can reflect on their behaviour and understand the impact of their actions on others.

In lessons, pupils are eager to learn and focus well. They work together effectively and listen to the views of others. As a result, there is a calm and purposeful atmosphere in school.

Personal development is a high priority. Thoughtfully considered activities in assemblies and lessons develop pupils' global awareness. Pupils embrace equality and diversity by learning about a range of role models to challenge stereotypes.

Pupils develop their understanding of the local community around them. For example, they create harvest parcels for the people who attend a local day care centre. Pupils develop their listening and leadership skills well through the school council and becoming house captains.

Pupils use these skills to help solve disagreements that they may have with each other.

Staff are positive about the school and the journey of improvement. Effective support ensures that staff conduct their roles effectively.

A strong culture of sharing and helping each other permeates the school. As a result, changes positively impact pupils. Staff value the actions taken to help them to manage their workload and well-being.

Governors provide support and challenge to help the school improve further. Strong relationships with other local schools enable leaders to receive useful feedback and share effective practice.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teachers do not routinely check that pupils have the prior knowledge that they need to access future learning successfully. This means that some pupils do not learn as well as they could in these subjects. The school needs to ensure that assessment is used to identify gaps in pupils' prior knowledge and plan with deliberation to fill them.