Newport Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils, parents, carers and staff feel lucky to be part of this kind and caring community.

Pupils demonstrate exceptionally high standards of behaviour and see it as their responsibility to make their school a nice place to be. This is an inclusive school where everybody feels part of the family.

Pupils feel safe because adults go above and beyond to get to know them and support them with their concerns.

Care for pupils is exemplary and leaders have developed a culture of 'it could happen here' when training staff to keep pupils safe. Leaders know that feeling secure and happy will support pupils to be able to learn.

Most pupils achieve well and many... read to a high standard and develop a more sophisticated understanding of mathematics as they progress to Year 6.

Those that fall behind receive timely support to help them keep up with their peers.

Leaders find unique ways to develop pupils' interest in wider learning. They deliver an exceptional range of activities and events to excite and engage their pupils.

Pupils feel that they could go on from this school and do 'great jobs' and that they feel lucky to be able to go on such 'amazing' residential visits.

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

There is an exceptional team spirit in school, where everybody is receptive to the advice and guidance of others. Leaders seek to review what they do by inviting advisers to school to help them improve.

Leaders act on advice but are not reactive. They think carefully about the implications of change and seek to consider the impact on staff workload when delivering it. Leaders make sure that everybody is committed to working in the best interests of the pupils they serve.

Staff report feeling lucky to work at this school.

There is a good curriculum on offer. Pupils develop a deep understanding across many subjects.

Careful consideration has been given to what staff want pupils to know. Leaders see the curriculum at this school as constantly evolving. They have made recent changes to the writing curriculum to improve pupils' written work and outcomes.

These changes are not yet impacting on some pupils' progress. Leaders are continuing to work with staff to ensure that they understand the expectation of their new writing curriculum.

Pupils enjoy reading.

The school has supported them to do so by investing in a wide range of books that interest them. Pupils feel that being able to read widely will help them to be successful when they leave this school. Some pupils who are not yet reading fluently receive support to help them catch up.

The school has focused on making sure that all pupils have a good grasp of phonics.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are extremely well supported to learn. They receive high-quality support from staff who have been well trained to identify and assess their needs.

There is consideration given to when these interventions take place so that pupils do not miss other learning. Support plans are highly effective in explaining why pupils find learning difficult. They identify ways that staff can apply to support them to access the whole curriculum.

This means that pupils with SEND receive an equally good learning experience as their peers and they achieve well.

Pupils behave and demonstrate great maturity. The school's behaviour systems are rarely required as pupils show an intrinsic motivation to do the right thing.

This is largely because they enjoy learning. Most pupils attend school regularly and those that do not are supported well to come to school more often.

Pupils demonstrate exceptional character.

The experiences they get both in school and through extra-curricular activities are of high quality. Most pupils are provided with opportunities to develop their interests and represent the school in competitions. Pupils enjoy opportunities to visit new places and join new clubs, such as German club.

Pupils feel that being inclusive and tolerant in society is how everybody should behave. They feel well prepared for life beyond this school and enjoy learning about the world of work during theme days.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Changes to the writing curriculum are relatively new and there is still some variability in the quality of work that some pupils produce. As a result, some pupils are not yet able to write at an age-related standard. The school should continue to support staff to understand the expectations of their new writing curriculum.