Hindon Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, St Mary’s and St John’s

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Hindon School is a happy place where pupils feel valued. They enjoy coming to school. Leaders are determined all will succeed.

Most parents are positive about the school. They appreciate the inclusive and supportive ethos provided for their children. Pupils say the school is 'one big family'.

Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils enjoy their learning. Staff have an accurate view of pupils' individual needs.

Pupils appreciate the opportunities provided for them beyond the classroom. These support them well with their personal development.

Pupils behave well.

The school is calm and orderly. Disruption to learning is r...are. Pupils understand and follow the school rules of 'be kind' and 'work hard'.

They understand what bullying is. Pupils say bullying does not happen. They are confident that, if it were to occur, adults would deal with it quickly.

Pupils have a strong understanding of tolerance and respect. They know that they should treat each other with kindness. Pupils understand the importance of their Christian values and relate these to how they should treat others.

They say that difference should be celebrated and that everyone has the right to be unique.

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

Leaders, including governors, have high ambition for all pupils. Staff feel well supported in their roles.

Through teamwork, they have overcome key challenges across the year and have kept the learning of all pupils at the forefront of their minds.

Leaders prioritise reading. From the moment children start in Reception, they learn phonics.

Staff promote children's love of reading through ensuring they encounter a range of stories, songs and rhymes within an engaging environment. This supports children to use the sounds they know when writing. Adults guide pupils in whole class sessions to enable them to break down words into sounds.

However, some pupils who struggle with reading, do not always receive the precise support they need to develop their fluency and understanding. Consequently, some pupils are not developing into confident readers as quickly as they could.

Pupils receive a well-planned and structured mathematics curriculum.

Most staff use and explain mathematical vocabulary clearly in lessons. This is particularly evident in the early years and the key stage 2 classes. Staff ensure that children in early years hear a range of technical vocabulary in everyday talk to develop their understanding of number.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have learning adapted to meet their needs. Pupils enjoy mathematics. They can talk confidently about what they know and remember.

Leaders have worked systematically to structure the content of subjects across the wider curriculum. They plan interesting topics for the mixed-aged classes. Pupils remember what they have learned in most subjects.

However, in some subjects, leaders have not explicitly identified and sequenced the knowledge they want pupils to remember in the long term. As a result, learning does not always build on what pupils already know and can do.

Staff tailor the curriculum well to meet the needs of pupils with SEND.

They break learning down into manageable steps. This helps pupils access the same intended curriculum as their peers. As a result, pupils with SEND feel well supported.

They can talk with confidence about their learning improving through the support they receive.

Pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to their learning. Pupils of all ages work and play together harmoniously.

Staff engage in constructive talk with pupils during social times. This helps pupils form strong relationships with adults in the school community.

Leaders provide opportunities for pupils to develop as individuals.

Pupils talk fondly of how the forest school visits help to promote their social and emotional needs. One pupil stated that 'if I take myself off into the calm area when I am upset, it relaxes me.' Staff weave aspects of the personal, social, health and economic curriculum across other subjects.

They teach pupils how to be good citizens.

Governors share the same ambitions as school leaders. They understand their roles, including safeguarding responsibilities.

As visible members of the school community, they understand the next steps within the school's development. They are keen that all pupils receive a range of opportunities to ensure that they are ready for the next stage in their education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff act in the best interests of pupils to keep them safe. Effective policies and procedures are in place. Leaders ensure that staff have regular and up-to-date safeguarding training.

As a result, staff know what to do if they are concerned about a child.

Staff carry out the necessary checks on the suitability of staff to ensure that they are safe to work with children. Pupils feel safe.

They know who to go to if they have a concern. Pupils understand the challenges of keeping safe on online. Leaders have ensured that the curriculum supports pupils' understanding of safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Staff do not provide the right support to help some pupils who struggle to read, particularly in key stage 1. As a result, some pupils are not consolidating their understanding of phonics and developing fluency. Leaders need to ensure that pupils who are in danger of falling behind receive relevant and precise support, so they become confident and fluent readers.

• The key content that pupils need to know has not been identified in some subjects across the wider curriculum. As a result, pupils are not always clear on what they need to know and remember. Leaders need to ensure that knowledge is clearly identified and sequenced across all subjects, so pupils know more and remember more over time.

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