Lostock Hall Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish at this caring and friendly school. They appreciate the way that staff get to know them as individuals. Pupils are excited to come to school each day.

They warmly greet their friends and staff each morning. Pupils are happy in school.

The school has high expectations for pupils' learning, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Many pupils achieve well.

Pupils' behaviour is exceptional. From the beginning of the early years to Year 6, pupils show excellent attitudes towards their learning.

Pupils are focused and enthused during lessons. They welcome visitors to their school and are pr...oud to show off their learning. Pupils are confident and considerate towards others.

For example, they are extremely respectful and understanding towards other pupils. There is a harmonious atmosphere throughout the school. Pupils thrive socially and emotionally because of the highly respectful relationships that exist between pupils and staff.

Pupils benefit from a well-thought-out programme to develop their learning beyond the academic curriculum. Pupils celebrate their achievements in school and they spoke with pride about representing their school at various sporting tournaments. Pupils relish the opportunity to develop and showcase their talents and interests, for example through school musical productions.

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

The school has successfully developed an ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6. It has made sure that pupils learn curriculum content in a logical order, which enables them to build on their prior learning effectively.

Staff deliver the curriculum well.

They select appropriate activities which support pupils to learn the content of the curriculum. Staff routinely check that pupils understand their work. When pupils do develop misunderstandings, staff are quick to address any issues by providing helpful, timely guidance.

This enables pupils to secure the most important knowledge in their long-term memory and draw on it for future learning.

In some subjects, the school is in the process of refining its assessment strategies. This means that, in these areas of the curriculum, subject leaders are less well informed about the effectiveness of the curriculums on pupils' learning.

A love of reading flows throughout the school. Pupils enthusiastically read a wide range of books and poetry by different authors. They also enjoy listening to the class stories that the staff read to them.

From the start of the early years, children enjoy books and stories. They gain a strong foundation on which to build when they learn phonics in the Reception class. In the main, the school provides appropriate support to help those pupils who struggle with learning to read.

Staff typically deliver the phonics programme well.

The school has the same high expectations for pupils with SEND. It quickly identifies pupils' needs.

Staff skilfully adapt the delivery of the curriculum to enable pupils with SEND to successfully learn alongside their peers. Pupils with SEND achieve well.

Pupils show high levels of resilience and determination towards their life in school.

They demonstrate exemplary behaviours. For example, older pupils gladly help children in the early years during lunchtimes because they want to act as positive and supportive role models. The school makes sure that attendance is everybody's responsibility.

It provides a wealth of support for families to successfully overcome any barriers to securing good attendance. Pupils attend school regularly.

The school provides a wide range of opportunities that promote pupils' personal development.

For example, children in the early years visit the airport to bring their learning to life. Pupils contribute to the life of the school and the wider community. For instance, pupils raise money for various charities.

Throughout the school, pupils learn about tolerance and respecting others, including those different to themselves. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern British society.

Trustees and members of the local governing body understand their roles and carry them out well.

They are extremely proud to be part of this nurturing school. Staff also enjoy working at the school. Levels of morale are high.

Staff appreciate the consideration that the school gives to their well-being. For example, the school gives staff time to implement any changes so that these do not adversely affect their workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school is still refining its assessment strategies in some newer subject curriculums. This means that subject leaders do not have the information that they need to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of some curriculum areas. The school should ensure that subject leaders gather and use assessment information to make any necessary improvements to the curriculum.