Miskin Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

A group of children in a gymDescription automatically generatedA child and child playing with sandDescription automatically generatedA person and child sitting at a tableDescription automatically generatedThis is a school at the heart of its community. Staff know their pupils and their families well.

They provide a high level of care, support and compassion, particularly for those pupils and their families experiencing difficult circumstances. As a result, pupils feel safe and well looked-after, and enjoy coming to school. Most pupils make steady progress from low baselines during their time at the school.

By the time they leave most can read well and write appropriately. They speak confidently and generally listen careful...ly. This is because their teachers plan systematically to ensure that pupils develop their literacy skills well.

However, when teachers over-direct tasks, pupils do not always have enough opportunities to work independently. Most pupils enjoy learning Welsh and make strong progress. They are proud to be Welsh and are effective ambassadors for the Welsh language.

However, inspectors identified that too many pupils do not make the progress they could in mathematics, particularly in developing their mental arithmetic skills. The headteacher leads the school well. Leaders monitor the school's work robustly, for example to check that everyone complies with the agreed procedures, but their monitoring does not always focus tightly enough on the impact of the provision on improving pupils' outcomes.

The staff work together as a team to provide pupils with the opportunities and challenges that they need to succeed in life. The range of trips, visits and memorable experiences that staff plan for their pupils is particularly noteworthy and helps to broaden pupils' horizons and raise their aspirations. The school makes worthwhile use of the school grounds, for example developing an allotment garden and wildlife pond, and creating a dedicated area for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities.

Recommendations R1 Improve pupils' independent learning skills R2 Improve pupils' achievement in mathematics R3 Ensure that monitoring, evaluation and review focus tightly on pupils' outcomes and progress R4 Ensure that the school complies with the Welsh Government's requirements for healthy eating and drinking