Great Steeping Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy at this school. They learn to have a positive attitude to their work and school.

Pupils enjoy the opportunities to become active citizens. The head boys and girls take their roles and responsibilities seriously. The 'mini police' enjoy supporting pupils should they become sad or if pupils fall out with each other.

Pupils have a strong moral understanding. They learn how to keep themselves safe, happy and healthy.

Parents, carers and pupils say the school has a family feel.

The school cares about its pupils. One parent, with a comment that was typical of many, said, 'Staff are willing to go above and beyond for the welfare of the chil...dren in the school.' Pupils feel cared for by the school.

They consider each other's needs. Pupils behave well.

Pupils talk positively about the experiences they receive in school and trips they go on.

They enjoy their residential trip in Year 6 and the adventure activities they do. Visits to places such as Nottingham Castle and the Wolds wildlife park enhance the curriculum.

Although the school has high expectations, this is not always realised for all pupils.

However, the school has a clear focus on what needs to improve.

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

Pupils begin to learn to read as soon as they join in the Reception Year. There is a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics.

Skilled staff support pupils should they make mistakes. Pupils receive the support they need should they begin to fall behind. Books match the needs of pupils.

They read fluently as a consequence and become confident readers. Pupils say that they enjoy reading. Beyond phonics, the school has recently introduced a reading curriculum.

This is not yet consistently implemented. The school provides pupils with a wide range of books. The school library is well used.

The school has recently made changes to its curriculum. Where subjects are well established, the school has a clear vision for these subjects. For example, in mathematics, the school wants pupils to see errors as a positive learning experience.

However, the school is not checking carefully enough on the implementation of recent changes to the curriculum. In all subjects, there is a clear structure to lessons. Teachers use 'Flashback' to revisit previous learning.

In a few subjects, the curriculum is not ambitious enough and does not set out the detailed knowledge that pupils should know and remember. Furthermore, in these subjects, there is not a systematic approach to check what pupils know and remember long-term. This means there are gaps in pupils' knowledge.

Children settle quickly in the early years foundation stage. Staff have high expectations of them. There are well organised areas in the classroom.

Children enjoy the activities provided. However, in some activities, the school does not make the intended learning clear enough. Children work well together and on their own.

There are many opportunities for children to communicate with each other. Adults model language and extend children's vocabulary. Children really enjoy story time.

This is because teachers make it fun, for example by encouraging the children to join in with actions and to repeat rhymes.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. The school makes sure that these pupils' needs are well known and understood.

Clear targets make sure that staff provide the help that these pupils need. Parents appreciate the support their children receive.

The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour.

They expect all pupils to live up to these. As a consequence, pupils behave well. Pupils play well together at breaktime and lunchtime.

Should pupils fall out, they know that staff will support them. If bullying occurs, pupils know staff will deal with it. Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend regularly.

The school understands the barriers to securing good attendance. Leaders adapt systems to overcome these barriers with great success. Pupils' attitudes to learning are positive.

The school provides many opportunities for pupils' personal development. Pupils understand equality and diversity. Carefully chosen books support pupils' understanding of difference.

The school encourages pupils to become active citizens. They learn about the local community and explore other communities and cultures. Pupils undertake litter picks in the local area.

They raise money for charities by making calendars and selling them.

The school has been slow to make improvements recently. However, with the support of the local authority and a teaching school, recent changes have brought rapid improvements.

Leaders at all levels now have a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities. The school now knows what it needs to do to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, the curriculum is not ambitious enough and lacks the detailed knowledge that pupils should know and remember. As a consequence, pupils do not achieve as well as they should in these subjects. The school should complete the work they have started to ensure that all curriculum subjects have a clear, detailed progression so that pupils' learning builds on prior knowledge.

• There is not a systematic approach to check what pupils know and remember in the long-term in some subjects. This means there are gaps in pupils' knowledge. The school should establish systems to check what pupils know and remember and make the necessary adaptations to lessons to ensure that these gaps are filled.

• The school is not checking carefully enough on the implementation of all of its curriculum. This means that important knowledge, such as fundamental British values, is not made explicit enough and pupils understanding of aspects of it is not deep enough. The school should make sure that the whole curriculum is implemented effectively and is having the desired impact.

• In the early years foundation stage, learning in continuous provision is not made explicit enough. This hinders children from reliably developing in all areas of the early years foundation stage curriculum. The school should make sure that intended learning is made clear for all activities so children achieve as well as they could.

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