Eye CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Eye Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are at the heart of Eye Church of England School's 'life in all its fullness' (John 10:10) vision.

Pupils love coming to school and value the opportunities and the quality of education that the curriculum has to offer.

Pupils behave well because they are interested in what they are learning. When asked how the school could be better, many responded, 'Even more lessons'.

Pupils immerse themselves in a curriculum that is meaningful and relevant.

They learn new vocabulary every day and enjoy putting it into context. The school is a buzz of curios...ity and achievement. Pupils are confident in their knowledge in different areas of the curriculum.

Pupils are part of a relaxed atmosphere that is shaped by clear, consistent routines. This helps pupils feel safe in school. Pupils display warm, trusting relationships with each other and staff.

Bullying rarely happens and if it does, it is dealt with without delay.

Parents are proud that their children attend the school. The overwhelmingly positive comments included, 'Staff know my child really well', and, 'The school ensures pupils have a love of learning'.

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

Leaders have created a well-planned and ambitious curriculum. Pupils enjoy the structured approach to learning that builds on what they already know. Leaders have planned the curriculum to ensure pupils make connections between subjects, and this also gives pupils the opportunity to make links with their own life experiences.

For example, pupils designed a bench for the school based on the knowledge learned from a series of lessons about 'structures'.

Leaders have recently reviewed their reading and mathematics curriculum. Leaders have provided training to deliver a more systematic approach when teaching pupils to read and learn number facts.

This is to ensure that pupils are even better prepared for their next stage of learning. On a few occasions, staff were less confident in delivering these new approaches. For example, not all staff were clear about the correct way to ensure number sentences are recorded.

Children begin to learn sounds and make words as soon as they start school in early years. This gives them a positive start to becoming readers. The expectations in the early years are high.

Words such as 'indignant' are displayed and explained to the youngest children. This gives children the chance to use their knowledge of the sounds they know to practise reading a wide range of vocabulary.

Reading is planned and delivered well throughout the school.

Pupils are taught to 'read like a reader', and 'read like a writer'. They then use these strategies confidently when reviewing their own work. By the time pupils leave the school, they have learned from a wealth of reading materials.

For example, they read historical fiction to understand the context of the Titanic sinking.

Leaders make sure all areas of the curriculum are rooted in the Christian values of the school. Pupils love being nominated for the termly 'Christian Value Awards'.

These awards focus on values such as being a role model, showing kindness and supporting others. Pupils talk fondly about external visitors, trips out and after-school clubs. Older pupils showed a maturity when discussing moving on to secondary schools.

Pupils are well prepared socially and emotionally due to the wider curriculum successfully broadening their experiences.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) succeed due to the ambitious curriculum, and staff knowing the pupils well. Teachers make sure their needs are identified quickly, and additional support is given when required.

Parents were overwhelmingly positive about the help their children receive when they need more support.

Governors hold leaders to account and are rigorous in checking the agreed priorities. They have placed a focus on retaining the ambitious curriculum throughout the pandemic.

Additionally, they have ensured that staff well-being and workload are managed. Staff are positive about the support they have received from leaders and do not see workload as an issue.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong safeguarding culture in school. All staff have regular training to ensure they understand signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff are clear about how and when to share information.

Leaders have an effective system for monitoring cases to ensure families get the right support they need. Governors check the school is following all safeguarding procedures regularly.Pupils understand risks and know how to keep themselves safe through the curriculum and assemblies.

For example, they know to speak to a trusted adult on a friend's behalf if needed.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders have introduced a new phonics and mathematics scheme to improve the outcomes for all pupils. There has been comprehensive training for staff on this.

However, less confident staff are still unclear about some of the expectations of these systematic approaches. Leaders need to provide further training and support so that all staff are able to deliver the intended curriculum to an equally high standard.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour, or the quality of education, we will deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good in July 2016.