Elmstead Wood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has established a culture of high expectations for staff and pupils.

As a result, the school is providing a good quality of education and continuing to improve. Leaders, including governors, have a clear understanding of the school's performance and are ambitious to improve further. Leaders check regularly on the progress that pupils are making.

They identify dips and respond to issues effectively. The overall quality of teaching and learning is good. As a result, the majority of pupils currently in the school make good progress from their starting points in reading, writing and mathematics.

Pupils benefit from an... interesting, broad curriculum within and beyond the school day. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged make good progress from their starting points. The teaching of phonics is a strength of the school.

Effective teaching enables pupils to gain early reading skills and use this knowledge when they read and write independently. Pupils read with interest and enjoyment. They can describe in detail what they like about the book they are reading and have successful strategies to tackle the more difficult words.

Pupils behave well and show good attitudes to learning. They are polite and welcoming. Pupils of all ages work and play well together.

Pupils' well-being and safeguarding are high priorities. Pupils feel very safe in school. Pupils enjoy the school and attendance is now in line with the national average.

Leaders have worked tirelessly to reduce pupils' absence. High expectations, effective teaching and caring relationships help children in the early years to make good progress. They are well prepared for Year 1.

Inconsistencies in the way a few teachers use assessment information to plan learning activities mean that some activities are not challenging enough, particularly for the most able pupils. Teachers' do not consistently use effective questioning to deepen pupils' knowledge and understanding.

Information about this school

Castlecombe Primary is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

The school is part of the Spring Partnership Trust, a multi-academy trust. The academy trust is governed by a trust board. The trustees have established a local governing committee for each of their schools.

Castlecombe Primary School and Dorset Road Infant School share the same local governing committee. The proportion of pupils who are eligible for pupil premium funding is above the national average and the proportion with SEND is also above the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is in line with the national average.