Easington CofE Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils belong to a school that sits within the heart of their community.

The school provides pupils with an environment where they feel safe and included. Pupils appreciate the care and warmth shown to them by staff. The school has high expectations for all pupils.

It has developed a very individualised approach to ensure these expectations are met. Pupils achieve well. They develop knowledge and skills beyond those taught in academic subjects, which prepares them well for their next steps.

Pupils access an offer of wider experiences which opens up their view of the world beyond their local community. The school ensures that all pupils access these opportunit...ies. These include attendance at a variety of extra-curricular clubs, such as skateboarding, dance and yoga, as well as sporting events and competitions.

Pupils are eager to share their learning from the visits they have been on.

Children in the early years and those joining the school at other points in the school year, settle in quickly. There is a calm atmosphere within the school.

Pupils want to learn and do well. They understand the school values which include compassion and friendship. Pupils know that these help everyone get along well together.

Behaviour is positive in lessons and around school.

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

Since the last inspection, the school has renewed the wider offer in place for pupils. Reflecting that pupils who attend this school, live in a small rural location, leaders have designed a range of experiences for pupils to be a part of.

This helps to develop their wider interests. Some of these opportunities are purposefully woven through the curriculum. For example, in physical education (PE) pupils learn conventional sports alongside more unusual ones such as fencing and curling.

Other opportunities are provided by ensuring pupils have the chance to become involved in local or regional projects. Recently pupils explored the unique history of their area with a local historical group.

Pupils, including those with special educational needs and / or disabilities (SEND), embrace the experiences that the school offers them.

They are taught how to stay safe and keep themselves healthy. The school ensures that initiatives to promote positive physical health, such as the tooth brushing programme, are undertaken by all pupils.

The school has recently taken decisive action to review and revise its curriculum.

This has been carefully considered to meet the needs of the mixed-aged classes and with the local context in mind. The curriculum clearly identifies the knowledge that pupils need to learn from early years to Year 6. Teachers have clarity in knowing what to teach and when across the range of curriculum subjects.

However, when in lessons, some pupils, including those with SEND, experience learning that does not always build on what they know or address the gaps in knowledge that they have. Learning is not always adapted quickly enough to enable these pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding. This means that over time, in some subjects, pupils' learning is insecure.

The school prioritises the teaching of reading. Pupils receive phonics teaching bespoke to their needs. This includes ensuring those who are at risk of falling behind their peers, receive the right support to catch up.

Pupils read books that match their phonics knowledge. This helps pupils to develop their confidence and reading fluency.

Pupils behave extremely well in this school.

They enjoy school and most pupils attend well. However, attendance remains a high priority. There is a strong pastoral offer in place for both pupils and their families.

The school has systems which not only identify if pupils have any additional needs related to SEND, but also any wider needs related to behaviour or attendance. Once identified, the school ensures that the right help and support is available for these pupils.

Although part of a smaller community, pupils at the school have a very good understanding of differences between themselves and others.

They talk confidently about what discrimination may look like and why it is important to respect others, no matter what those differences may be.

The trust, as well as local governors, know the school well. They are dedicated to securing the best outcomes for their pupils.

In this small school, staff have many areas of responsibility. The trust is mindful of this and works collaboratively with staff to help them fulfil their roles while supporting their well-being and workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Learning is not adapted well enough to meet the needs of some pupils, including those with SEND, consistently across school. Where this is the case, pupils do not develop their knowledge well enough across the curriculum. The school needs to ensure that learning is suitably adapted so that all groups of pupils progress through the curriculum well.