Lakenham Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at Lakenham.

The adults quickly get to know the pupils and their families well. Pupils trust that there is always an adult they can talk to who will listen and help them. They are well cared for.

Pupils are hardworking and respectful in class. They listen carefully to each other, and to their teachers, because this is what is expected of them. The high expectations that staff have for pupils' achievement means that pupils 'enjoy, aspire and achieve' in their learning.

Pupils across the school play together well at lunchtimes. They enjoy activities such as den building. Many pupils also take up the opportunity to attend a wealth of different club...s, such as art, karate and gardening club.

Pupils love that what they grow is then used in the school kitchens.

The enriching experiences which all pupils benefit from are carefully planned in the 'Lakenham passport'. Pupils gain confidence and are excited about trips to London and around Norwich.

They appreciate taking part in local events to help the community, for example litter picking and Bank of England story telling as well as having their school competition winning 'books in a box' displayed in the nearby book shop.

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

The school's curriculum clearly sets out what pupils need to learn in each subject. There are lots of opportunities for pupils to develop their vocabulary and spend time talking about their learning.

This helps all pupils, including those whose first language is not English. Teachers are provided with effective training to help them to teach the curriculum well.

In core subjects, teachers carefully check what pupils know and understand.

They adapt their teaching where necessary to meet the needs of all pupils, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND.) However, in some foundation subjects, teachers are not doing this as well. When this happens, teachers are not always able to identify what pupils have learned.

As a result, gaps in pupils' knowledge are not always addressed, and pupils have some misunderstanding about certain topics.

The school makes sure that the needs of pupils with SEND are identified swiftly. Pupils get the resources and support that helps them to successfully access the same curriculum as their peers.

Although outcomes last year at the end of key stage 2 were low, the school has worked effectively to improve outcomes for pupils throughout the school.

Reading is at the heart of the curriculum. The school has carefully chosen resources to help pupils to develop a love of reading.

Books are celebrated everywhere. Pupils start to learn to read as soon as they join the school. Staff teach the chosen reading scheme well, as they are well trained.

Pupils take home books that are well matched to the sounds they are learning in class. Regular checks help identify those pupils who are finding reading hard and they get support to build fluency and confidence. Pupils in key stage 2 continue to get regular reading lessons.

This is helping them to read more complex texts with increasing confidence.

Children in Nursery and Reception receive a fantastic start to their education. There is a delight and excitement about learning.

Learning in the classroom and outdoor areas is precisely planned to make sure that each child is incredibly well supported in their learning. Staff know what children have learned and carefully check this so they know what children need to learn next to achieve consistently well. Adults are experts in supporting children to develop the skills they will need to succeed in Year 1.

The school supports the behaviour needs of pupils well by making effective use of the pastoral support team and areas such as the 'come and learn more' room. In classes, most pupils listen and focus carefully on their learning. Pupils understand the routines and so the learning environment is calm and purposeful.

Pupils' personal development is exceptional. The highly effective personal, social, health and economic curriculum helps pupils to become confident and resilient individuals. Pupils learn about staying safe online, healthy relationships and respecting difference.

Families are closely involved in school life. Groups such as 'coffee and lunch box' and 'lads and dads' support excellent home and school collaboration.

Leaders receive appropriate challenge and support from the governing body.

Staff, including those in the early stages of their teaching career, are proud to work at the school. Leaders know that they need to continue to make sure that all staff feel that their workload is manageable.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some curriculum subjects, teachers do not use well enough the information that they gain from assessing pupils' learning so as to enable them to identify gaps for individual pupils. As a result, some pupils, including those with SEND, do not make the progress that they should. Leaders need to ensure that effective use is being made of assessment in these subjects to identify and plan appropriate learning for individual pupils so that pupils achieve highly in all areas of the curriculum.