Newtons Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Newtons Primary School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

What is it like to attend this school?

This school sits at the heart of the community it serves. Everyone is welcomed and celebrated here.

Relationships across the school are highly respectful. The school does all it can to ensure that every pupil can be 'GREAT'. Pupils try their best to be generous, resilient, enthusiastic, aspirational and thoughtful.

The school has high aspirations for all pupils' achievement and behaviour. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), those who join the school midway through the academic y...ear and those pupils who speak English as an additional language. All pupils are supported well to be successful.

Pupils work hard in their lessons and behave well in classrooms and around the school. They meet the high expectations staff have of them.

Staff take bullying concerns very seriously.

Incidents are dealt with robustly and resolved quickly. Pupils know what to do if they have any worries. They are happy and safe.

Pupils are supported effectively to attend school regularly and to arrive on time.

Pupils enjoy their responsibilities, such as being school councillors, well-being ambassadors and prefects. They appreciate the wide range of extra-curricular activities the school offers that help them build confidence and independence including karate, gardening and Languages club.

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

The school has developed an ambitious knowledge-rich curriculum that is well considered and carefully arranged. Knowledge and skills have been clearly identified across the curriculum so that all staff know what pupils should learn and when they should learn it.Beginning in the early years and throughout key stages 1 and 2, subject curriculums are carefully ordered so that pupils build and make connections as they progress.

Since the last inspection, leaders have introduced a new curriculum for the teaching of phonics and created more opportunities to develop pupils' early writing skills. This has ensured that pupils gain more experience in practising their writing across all curriculum areas.

Teachers have secure subject knowledge due to the effective training and support they receive.

They deliver the curriculum skilfully and explain concepts clearly. Pupils are given opportunities to practise what they have been taught. They remember a great deal about what they have learned.

Teachers are skilled at checking pupils' understanding and adapting teaching accordingly. However, sometimes, opportunities for pupils to deepen, and reflect on, their learning are not secure. This limits pupils' readiness for future learning.

Children get off to a positive start in the early years. Adults develop warm and supportive relationships with children, who quickly develop independence. Children are immersed in rhymes, songs and stories.

This helps them to build an understanding of new vocabulary and sounds quickly. Staff focus on developing children's early reading, writing and mathematics skills. Activities are carefully designed to ensure that children develop well in all areas of learning.

Learning to read is a priority as soon as children start at the school. Pupils read books that match the sounds that they know. This helps them develop fluency and confidence.

The school provides additional support for pupils who need help to catch up or keep up with their peers.

The school makes sure that pupils with SEND are identified quickly. Pupils with SEND are supported effectively in the school.

The school makes sure staff can access and implement detailed plans that outline clearly the individual needs and strategies to support pupils. Staff meet the needs of pupils with SEND consistently. As a result, pupils with SEND engage well in their learning and progress well.

The personal development programme is woven through school life. It teaches pupils how to keep themselves safe and well. Pupils are confident how to stay safe online and learn strategies to help their own mental health.

Pupils learn about healthy relationships and how their bodies change in an age-appropriate way. They place a high importance on physical fitness and know what constitutes a healthy diet. Pupils have an impressive understanding of fundamental British values such as democracy and tolerance.

The curriculum helps pupils to understand important issues, such as diversity and equality. They have a strong understanding of different faiths and cultures. Pupils attend well.

Staff work positively to support families and pupils who need further help to improve their attendance.

Those responsible for governance have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development. They are passionate about maintaining the school's caring ethos and striving for excellence in all that the school does.

Leaders and governors are considerate of the workload and well-being of staff. There is a very positive work environment where staff's well-being is taken seriously.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Sometimes, the school does not provide pupils with enough opportunities to deepen, and reflect on, their learning. This hinders pupils from learning the intended curriculum effectively. The school should ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding so that they are fully ready for future subject content.

Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024, graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade.

This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in January 2019.

Also at this postcode