Grappenhall Heys Community Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to this happy, vibrant school.

From the moment they start in the Nursery Year, they embark on an exciting journey of learning and discovery. They flourish under the care and guidance of staff. They are confident in the support of their friends.

Ambition is high for all pupils. The school aims to provide a world class education by inspiring pupils to learn. Pupils benefit from a beautiful, stimulating environment.

The school gives them many unique experiences, in and out of the classroom. This means that all pupils thrive and excel in their learning.

Behaviour in school is exemplary.

The school involves pupils in deciding w...hat behaviour should be like in school. This means that they follow rules and do not need reminders about conduct. They show high levels of respect and are unfailingly courteous to everyone.

Pupils quickly learn to manage their own behaviour from the earliest age.

Pupils develop into young people who are keen to take on numerous positions of responsibility. For example, looking after the chickens in the Nursery class, or being junior safety officers.

Pupils develop their talents and interests through a wide range of clubs, such as football and photography.

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

The school has put much consideration into crafting an exceptional curriculum. It is broad, exciting and underpinned by many interwoven enrichment experiences.

The school has carefully plotted the learning journey for every subject. This means that pupils build a strong body of knowledge as they move through school. This journey starts straight away in the early years.

Here, children delight in carefully devised learning activities.

The school identifies pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) at the earliest possible opportunity. These pupils have clear support plans, which are put into practice in class.

This means that pupils with SEND make strong progress through the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.

Staff are skilled in teaching early reading. Children start their reading journey in the Nursery class, where they learn to identify sounds through games, songs and rhymes.

They continue from this strong foundation in the Reception Year and are soon blending sounds to read with increasing fluency and accuracy. The school swiftly identifies pupils who are in danger of falling behind with the phonics programme. These pupils receive the help that they need to keep up.

Older pupils are avid readers, who talk enthusiastically about their choice of books and favourite authors.

Pupils' progress in lessons and at the end of each topic is checked carefully. This allows teachers to address misconceptions, deepen thinking and design future learning.

Pupils have superb attitudes to their education. They are focused and engaged in every lesson. They participate with enthusiasm and relish each new challenge.

They show independence and work productively with other pupils. Pupils speak articulately and with great confidence about their current and past learning across all subjects. Pupils' work is of an exceptional standard.

They achieve highly in all subjects.

Attendance is high. The school monitors attendance on a very frequent basis.

It has clear and consistent procedures to improve the attendance of individuals, when necessary.

Pupils learn about different cultures and religions through a rich and diverse religious education curriculum, from visitors into school and from each other. They understand that people can be different in a variety of ways but firmly believe that everyone should be treated equally.

Pupils have a secure understanding of fundamental British values, such as democracy. They embody tolerance by showing respect for different viewpoints. The strong provision for their wider personal development means that pupils leave school as well-rounded young people.

They are well prepared for the next stage of their education and ready to take their place in society.

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the support for their well-being. They feel that everything the school asks them to do is important and necessary.

Parents and carers are extremely complimentary about the school, its staff and its leaders. They particularly value the unique experiences offered to every child. Governors know the school very well.

They have a strong oversight of what is happening in school. They both support and challenge the school to help its pupils 'aim, believe and achieve'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.