Layfield Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders and staff work together to fulfil the vision for their school to be a place where every pupil 'reaches higher by learning and growing together'.

From their start in the early years, leaders make sure that children are ready for the next steps in their education. Parents and carers welcome the home visits that staff make to ensure children have the best possible start. Parents enjoy joining the many visits on offer such as a trip to the local theatre.

Most pupils follow the school rules of 'Respect, Ready and Safe'. They are polite and respectful towards staff and each other. Pupils enjoy 'golden time' after demonstrating good behaviour.

Bullying is ra...re. Pupils know that adults will always help them. They are confident to report any concerns they have.

This helps pupils to feel safe and happy.

Pupils enjoy learning new sports and developing their musical talents. They take part in competitive games such as dodgeball.

They enjoy opportunities to play at the local cricket club. Pupils win votes to become school councillors. They learn to lead others in roles such as head boy and head girl.

Pupils are proud to contribute to their school and the local community. For example, the school council has taken action to improve the school by making sure the tarmac underneath the trim trail was replaced with turf.

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

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum for all pupils.

This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum identifies the precise knowledge that leaders intend pupils to learn from the early years to Year 6. This means that teachers are clear about what to teach and how to teach it.

In mathematics, in the early years, teachers show groups of children how to make five and then 10. Staff ensure children have plenty of opportunities to revisit making numbers by counting objects. This helps children to develop mathematical knowledge.

In later years, children confidently split numbers in useful ways when calculating. However, in a few subjects, such as geography, teachers do not plan enough opportunities for pupils to revisit knowledge over time. Some pupils are not given the opportunity to practise the knowledge and skills they need to be able to build new knowledge into larger ideas.

Leaders have made learning to read a priority. Pupils enjoy reading stories every day. Older pupils value fiction books such as 'The Firework-Maker's Daughter' by Philip Pullman.

They discuss texts and learn how to infer characters' feelings. Phonics teaching starts in Nursery where children learn to recognise and write initial letter sounds. Teachers check children's understanding so that children learn to read and write accurately.

Teachers identify pupils who need extra time to practise. Staff help pupils in small groups or one to one to catch up quickly. However, in a few lessons, some teachers do not systematically check pupils' understanding.

They do not provide feedback often enough to help pupils improve their work.

Children in the early years develop the detailed knowledge they need to achieve well in the next stage of their education. For example, children show high levels of concentration as they learn how to balance and breathe deeply in a yoga lesson.

This helps to prepare children for gymnastics in Year 1. Children learn about good hygiene. They wash their hands thoroughly, making connections between clean hands and good health.

In the early years, equipment is easy to access, well organised and supports children's learning and play. Staff support children extremely well to practise reading and writing.

Staff get to know children and their families from the start in early years.

This helps staff to identify children with SEND. Throughout the school, pupils with SEND access the full curriculum because staff know how to help them. Leaders make sure staff attend training so that they have expert knowledge to meet the needs of pupils with SEND.

Leaders help pupils and their families to access the help of specialists. Pupils with SEND achieve well.

Pupils show respect.

Sometimes teachers give reminders of behaviour expectations. This helps pupils to focus on their learning in lessons. At breaktimes, pupils enjoy time with their friends.

They move in and out of school calmly. In the early years behaviour is exceptional. Staff help children to manage their own behaviour well.

Children know how to cope in different situations such as when listening to live music in a large group.

Leaders have designed a curriculum to help pupils understand life in modern Britain. Pupils show respect towards those with different views from their own.

Assemblies and meaningful activities help pupils to understand responsible citizenship. For example, pupils recycle clothes and conserve energy by creating solar energy. Older pupils take part in activities such as canoeing and wall climbing at Carlton Adventure residential visit.

This helps pupils to develop resilience and confidence.

Staff are proud to work at the school. They value the practical measures that leaders have taken to improve their workload.

Governors and the trust oversight board know the school well. They support and challenge school leaders. This ensures the changes leaders make are benefiting pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that staff receive regular safeguarding training. Staff know pupils and their families well.

They know how to report any concerns they might have. Leaders make sure referrals to external safeguarding agencies are made swiftly. Leaders follow up on referrals to make sure that pupils and families receive the help they need.

Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, including when they are online. Leaders make sure pupils learn about local risks such as railway safety. Pupils feel confident to report any concerns to staff.

They know staff will act quickly to keep them safe.

Leaders ensure that all staff have undergone appropriate employment checks before working in the school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some foundation subjects, such as geography, pupils are not provided with the opportunity to regularly revisit the important knowledge and practise the skills that leaders want them to remember.

As a result, some pupils struggle to recall what they have learned before. Leaders should ensure that there are regular opportunities for pupils to practise and rehearse what they have previously learned so they can build their knowledge over time. ? Some teachers do not regularly identify misunderstandings in pupils' work, including incorrect letter formation.

Some teachers do not provide prompt feedback so that pupils can improve their work. This means that a few pupils keep repeating the mistakes. Leaders should ensure that teachers make regular checks on pupils' understanding and adapt teaching so that pupils can improve their work.

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