Marwood Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant School, Great Ayton

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school is the hub of the community.

One parent said: 'What the school lacks in space, it more than makes up in heart.' Pupils have exposure to a wealth of opportunities and experiences within their locality, especially linked to physical education (PE). Pupils have a strong sense of wanting to do good, both globally and locally.

With the help of leaders, pupils collected donations to make care packages for refugees who were new to the community. They have also raised money for the Water Aid charity and delivered harvest hampers to residents.Pupils in Year 2 have pledged to reduce the use of plastic in school and at home.

The school has embedded their Chri...stian values of love, friendship and forgiveness within the curriculum. Pupils can recite these values and can talk about how to enact them.

Teachers have high expectations of pupils' behaviour.

Pupils know the school rules and respond appropriately. Most pupils are polite and courteous and speak to visitors with respect. Parents, pupils and staff strongly agree that bullying rarely happens.

The last recorded incident was in 2019. There are no racist, homophobic, sexualised behaviour or behaviour concerns recorded. Pupils say they feel safe at the school all the time.

Teachers support pupils to resolve any conflicts that arise

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

Leaders have a 'Marwood approach' to teaching phonics and early reading. The school's programme is a combination of two schemes. This has been successful, as in the past Year 1 phonic screening check results were high.

Targeted support is given to pupils who are struggling to apply their phonics knowledge. Teachers are using several different schemes for these interventions. Leaders have been supported by the English hub to match decodable books to the sounds pupils know.

When hearing pupils read, adults always focus on phonics. However, the variety of decodable schemes used means pupils have different experiences. For example, some pupils practised reading digraphs as a warm-up, but others did not.

Leaders need to commit to one phonics programme to ensure consistency for all.

The plans for the wider curriculum are sequenced and build on what pupils have learned before. Curriculum leaders have a clear vision for their subject.

For example, the PE leader has linked the units of work to the local sports facilities. This instils a lifelong love of exercise in the pupils, as they attend these clubs outside the school day. The teaching team designed the science curriculum.

As a result, they know how to build on the knowledge and skills the children have accessed in the year before. Lesson visits showed children using accurate scientific language. This is because teachers have good subject knowledge.

There is a clearly planned curriculum in early years. Staff use a good range of vocabulary to extend children's learning. Amendments are made to the school's curriculum to ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can access learning.

For example, in Year 2, pupils with SEND had pictorial support and access to a list of key words when writing in history.

The teaching of mathematics in the early years is clear and focused. The teacher knows exactly what she wants the children to learn.

This results in early years children using accurate mathematical vocabulary. Leaders have adopted a scheme to deliver mathematics in key stage 1. Teachers' plans show that they are providing different mathematical activities to meet the various needs of pupils in their class.

These tasks are often practical, outdoor activities and led by the teaching assistant. While teaching assistants verbally inform teachers of how well pupils have done, there was limited evidence in books of challenge for all pupils.

The curriculum for personal development is exceptional.

Pupils have opportunities to develop their leadership skills by being play and worship leaders. Pupils have 'brain breaks' to support their mental health and well-being. Leaders have invested in books and resources that celebrate differences in family, culture and disability.

Leaders plan an effective transition package for Year 2 pupils as they move to their new primary school. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is linked to all subjects. Pupils get opportunities to reflect on their own beliefs in class reflection areas and the outdoor sacred space.

Leaders use the curriculum to promote equality. For example, within science they invite female scientists and male nurses in to challenge stereotypes.

The local authority and diocesan advisers have a good understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development.

Governors are regular visitors to the school. They are wholly supportive of the leadership and teaching team. One governor has taken responsibility for championing staff well-being.

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about their workload and work-life balance.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

During the inspection, leaders rectified some administrative omissions to the record they keep of checks carried out on staff who work at the school.

All staff, volunteers and governors have annual safeguarding training. Staff know the families well and are vigilant to any unusual changes in pupils' behaviour.Leaders uses the 'Framework for Decision Making' to support them in deciding when to involve external agencies.

Pupils know to speak to a trusted adult if they are worried about anything.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders are currently using several phonics schemes to teach phonics and to deliver interventions. This means pupils across the school do not receive a consistent approach.

Leaders should ensure that there is fidelity to one scheme, whether it is a Marwood approach or adopting a new systematic synthetic programme.

• In mathematics books, ambition for all was not always evident. Teachers are planning tasks to meet the different needs in their class.

However, they are not recording the outcomes of these, especially when the tasks are practical or led by a teaching assistant. Leaders should ensure that pupils in key stage 1 record in their mathematics books. Leaders can then monitor the level of ambition for all.