Minworth Junior and Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils feel safe and happy in the school. They say that kind, friendly staff look after them well.

Pupils behave well and care for others around them. The school is a calm place to learn. Pupils move sensibly indoors and outside.

Pupils told us they do not worry about being bullied because the school is a safe place.

Pupils are proud to take on helpful roles around the school, such as leading the safety team and being eco councillors.

Leaders and staff are determined to make sure that all pupils become 'the very best that they can be'.

They work well together to bring to life the school's vision of 'where learning is alive.' Pupils enjoy stu...dying exciting topics such as wonder women and Mexico and the Mayans. Pupils love to read every day.

Leaders know that they need to be clearer about what pupils need to learn and know in subjects such as science and history. Pupils and children would benefit from increased opportunities to develop their writing skills.

Parents and carers are full of praise.

They say that 'this is a school that has a heart.' They describe staff as genuinely caring, supportive and willing to listen.

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

The school curriculum follows the national curriculum.

Staff understand pupils' needs well. They make sure that the challenging curriculum meets the needs of all pupils. Well-attended clubs enhance the curriculum.

Pupils enjoy learning about food technology and construction and taking part in lunchtime football coaching. Leaders have worked relentlessly to improve the quality of education since the previous report. Standards and rates of progress in reading, writing and mathematics in key stages 1 and 2 have improved since the last inspection.

Most pupils now achieve well in relation to their starting points.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities keep up with the pace of learning. This is because staff support them to develop independence in their learning.

Some of these pupils went on a residential trip to Elan valley to develop independence skills.

During classroom visits, inspectors saw teachers helping pupils think like scientists and historians. In science, pupils know about the importance of handwashing to prevent infections spreading.

In history, pupils remember what they have learned about the Second World War. Pupils know that local people made the spitfire fighter aeroplanes that helped win the war.

Teachers teach reading well.

Younger pupils who have difficulty reading tricky words are supported well to sound out words correctly. This ensures that most pupils become fluent and confident readers. Pupils talk with enthusiasm about the books of their favourite authors, such as Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.

In mathematics, teachers develop pupils' recall of number facts. This means that most pupils have secure knowledge of addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. Key stage 2 pupils are able to solve mathematical problems with increasingly large numbers.

Leaders know that some subjects, such as science and history, need more work. The knowledge and content that pupils should learn are not defined clearly enough. Senior leaders are already acting to make improvements.

The vocabulary that pupils need to learn and remember is clear. Subject leaders are honing their planning and sequencing of these subjects.

School leaders are working on improving pupils' writing skills.

A handwriting programme is in place. This helps pupils to master the fine-motor skills needed to form equal-sized letters. There are some pupils who struggle to write longer pieces of work in some subjects and to get their ideas down on paper.

Children in the early years learn and behave well. The calm and well-ordered environment is bright and stimulating. Children busily use their early reading, mathematical and creative skills.

However, sometimes, adults do not use play activities to help children develop their early writing skills.

Pupils have good attitudes to learning. The 'Minworth Pledge' promotes values such as determination, responsibility, respect and tolerance.

It helps pupils develop into responsible citizens. Pupils visit the local mosque and celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Senior leaders take steps to help manage staff workload.

They do everything they can to allow teachers to focus on the quality of their teaching.

Governors know the strengths and weaknesses of the school. They provide effective support and challenge to school leaders.

This helps to ensure that the school continues to improve.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the school.

This is because leaders and governors take safeguarding seriously. They have a good understanding of issues that pupils face in the local community. Staff know what to do if they are worried about a pupil.

Records show that leaders follow up any concerns straight away.

Pupils know how to keep themselves safe. Pupils could explain confidently how to use the internet safely.

They know not to chat to people they do not know. Pupils know who they can talk to if something upsets them.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Leaders are making sure that all subjects have detailed, long-term plans in place.

They have carefully selected the vocabulary that pupils need to know and remember from the early years through each year group and subject. However, the essential knowledge that pupils need to know and remember in some subjects, such as science and history, is too vague. Leaders should ensure that the essential knowledge for each subject is comprehensively detailed.

It needs to be stated clearly and carefully sequenced, so that pupils' learning builds on what they have been taught. . Curriculum planning shows that the majority of subjects are now planned well.

However, some pupils' writing skills are stronger in some areas of the curriculum than in others. These pupils struggle to write longer pieces of work and get their ideas down on paper. Leaders need to further develop the curriculum and to give pupils more opportunities to write at length and improve their writing skills in the early years, in English and in other subjects.