Dymchurch Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend this thriving, inclusive school.

Pupils value their education. They are motivated to work hard. They are eager to tackle the challenges of the school's aspirational curriculum.

Pupils develop a good understanding of important knowledge and skills across a wide range of subjects.

Pupils know that they are all valued. They play an important role in the life of the school and the local community.

Pupils get great pleasure from helping residents of the Romney Marsh. They raise funds to support a local charity and make Christmas cards to send to those who are lonely.

Diversity and difference are valued by all pupils..../>
They are interested to learn about different religions and cultures. They show great respect for people who are different from them. Year 5 pupils were particularly inspired by the athletes who taught them to play wheelchair basketball.

Pupils are kind and supportive of one another. Older pupils organise games for younger pupils during breaktimes. They get along well and rarely fall out.

Pupils feel supported by the adults in school. They truly appreciate the time they have to talk with adults in nurture groups if they feel anxious.

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

The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

The school has considered the needs of all pupils in its curriculum design. All at the school are relentless in their commitment to deliver the very best for all pupils. Trust leaders provide the right balance of challenge and support.

This has helped the school continually improve the quality of education and pupils' outcomes. The disappointing key stage 2 national test outcomes from 2023 do not reflect how well pupils are doing over time.

Teachers are knowledgeable about the subjects they teach.

They explain important concepts clearly and accurately. They demonstrate crucial skills well so that pupils know how to be successful. This starts in Reception where children learn to persevere and apply their new learning.

Throughout the school, pupils progress well through the planned curriculum. Staff understand the individual needs of pupils. They carefully check pupils' understanding to address any misconceptions or gaps in knowledge.

They make effective adaptations to learning to meet the needs of pupils, particularly those with SEND.

The school has developed effective strategies to give pupils time to recall prior learning and practise what they already know. In most lessons, activities enable pupils to practise and apply their learning well.

Pupils remember the important content they have been taught. They confidently draw on this when learning new things, deepening their understanding. They articulate this understanding using appropriate technical vocabulary.

In a small number of subjects these effective strategies are not fully embedded.Sometimes pupils do not achieve as highly as they could in these subjects. They are not able to build on their prior learning as confidently.

All staff are fully committed to ensuring that all pupils learn to be confident, fluent readers. The school's approach to teaching phonics is highly effective. Children get off to a strong start learning to read in Reception.

They learn important phonics knowledge. They also benefit from listening to, and joining in with, a wide range of stories and songs. As pupils move through the school they build on these strong foundations, reading increasingly complex books with confidence and enjoyment.

The school works hard to get to know the difficulties and barriers that some families face. It works tirelessly to provide guidance and support for these families, including putting in place help to improve pupils' attendance. This work is showing success.

Pupils behave exceptionally well. Children quickly learn rules and routines in the early years with the help of nurturing adults and older pupils. They settle into school life quickly and happily.

Pupils are taught techniques to regulate their emotions. When pupils become anxious or overwhelmed, they know how to calm themselves. Consequently, incidents of poor behaviour are rare.

Lessons are calm and productive.

The school provides a vast array of different clubs, trips and experiences. The school ensures that all pupils benefit from this exceptional offer, making adaptations where needed to include everyone.

Pupils experience a wide range of sports, including golf and bouldering. Pupils learn how to stay safe and healthy. They are visited by representatives from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the local police.

Yoga sessions promote pupils' mental health and well-being.

The school has a dedicated team of staff who are supportive of one another. Staff also benefit from strong collaboration across the trust.

This enables staff to learn from the good practice in other schools. This support helps manage their workload.

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, some aspects of the school's effective pedagogy are not fully embedded. This means that sometimes pupils do not retrieve and build on their knowledge as well as they could. The school needs to ensure that these successful teaching strategies are embedded consistently across the curriculum so that pupils achieve as highly as possible in all subjects.

Also at this postcode