Eggbuckland Vale Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils and staff live out the school's values to be resourceful, open, aspirational, resilient and reflective. This is a 'ROARRsome' school.

This is a unique school where staff go to tremendous lengths to get to know pupils as individuals. Families express deep gratitude to the school for understanding their children's contexts, needs and strengths.

The high levels of mutual respect between everyone lead to a seamless integration of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

This includes those from the Deaf Education Centre (DEC). Pupils show remarkable support and care for one another. The school has turned disadvantage on its head....r/>
Whatever their context, pupils learn to celebrate the distinctive knowledge or skills they have. Young Carers are recognised for their skill with money, and 'MKC Heroes' develop friendships with others in service families. Both deaf and hearing pupils learn to communicate in British Sign Language.

The school's ambition for every pupil is for them to acquire the knowledge and skills they need for future life. Published outcomes reflect pupils' academic success. These, allied with independent life skills, communication and a strong sense of personal worth, prepare pupils for their next step.

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

Exceptional aspiration for each pupil is at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils love to learn. This is because the curriculum is inspiring.

Subject knowledge is identified and sequenced intricately. Pupils build on what they already know, developing secure knowledge over time. Teachers are creative in how they deliver the curriculum.

For example, in art and design, pupils appreciate extended time to develop their art projects when they can concentrate on knowledge and skills without distraction. Pupils produce exceptional quality work across the curriculum.

In addition to the strong personal development offer for pupils, expert staff in the DEC have designed an additional bespoke programme for deaf pupils.

It focuses on the specific skills that give them the very best opportunity for success in a hearing world. This progressive programme includes life skills specific to deaf pupils, including independence and taking care of their equipment. This significantly increases their confidence and ability to live more independent lives.

The provision for pupils with SEND, including those who are deaf, is exceptional. The school has a deep understanding of pupils' needs and barriers. Where necessary, pupils with SEND experience a bespoke curriculum, but more often expert adaptation enables them to learn alongside their peers.

Staff have excellent knowledge and skills to adapt learning for the full range of needs in their classes. Where specialist knowledge and support are required, this is well integrated into the mainstream classrooms. This benefits individuals, groups and, sometimes, whole cohorts of pupils.

For example, pupils, including hearing pupils, leave the school able to communicate in basic sign language.The support for pupils with SEND enables them to make the best progress possible through the curriculum.

The school is permeated with a love of reading.

In the Nursery, children join in with rhymes and songs, which sets them up well to learn phonics in Reception. Children in Reception quickly develop the listening and attention skills they need to be successful in phonics lessons. They have plenty of purposeful opportunities to practise segmenting sounds and blending words in their play.

Consequently, they become fluent readers.

The adaptations for phonics and early reading for pupils with SEND are exceptional. Many pupils learn alongside their peers.

Others receive a bespoke curriculum matched well to their needs. Deaf pupils learn to recognise written and spoken sounds, including the mouth shape for each phoneme so they can lip read. They also learn British Sign Language for whole words.

This gives them the tools they need to have a choice over their communication in the future.

Vocabulary is an essential part of every subject's curriculum. In the Nursery, children become skilled at describing shapes and explaining their reasoning.

This strong feature of the mathematics curriculum is mirrored, for example, in key stage 2 history. Pupils recall specific knowledge and historical terms in discussions about previous learning, which sets them up for their new theme. Written work shows pupils can use these words accurately.

Work completed by pupils is high quality, showing pupils' extremely positive attitudes to their learning.

Without exception, staff are knowledgeable and passionate. The school and the trust invest continually in the professional development and well-being of all their staff.

The staff team works cohesively and relentlessly to improve its knowledge and practice so their pupils benefit. Exceptional leadership at all levels underpins the success of the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.