Ombersley Endowed First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Ombersley Endowed First School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Staff, parents, carers and governors describe their school as a happy family.

That is exactly what it feels like to be in this school. The headteacher has high expectations of pupils and staff. Pupils rise to this challenge and many achieve well.

Pupils are well cared for and happy. Relationships are strong and nurturing. In lessons, pupils enjoy learning, work hard and listen well to their teachers.

Parents are extremely positive about the school. They spoke about the confidence they have in the staff to look after their children. Parents say teachers are approach...able and listen to their concerns.

This is an inclusive school that works hard to ensure that every child feels valued. The support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is particularly strong. Parents speak highly of the support provided by the school.

Pupils understand and can talk about the 'high 5' approach the school uses to teach about bullying. Pupils say that staff take their concerns and worries seriously. They say they feel comfortable approaching any member of staff with their concerns.

The school environment is attractive and welcoming. Displays celebrate pupils' work and show the range of inspiring and practical experiences they participate in.

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

Leaders know the school and the pupils well.

Leaders' knowledge of what the school needs to do in order to improve is accurate. The governors support the work of the school and are proud of the education it provides for the pupils. The headteacher and governors take staff well-being seriously and staff morale is very high.

Staff are dedicated and speak highly of the school. Staff told me that they feel valued and well supported and that they have a voice in the direction of the school.

Leaders provide a broad and balanced curriculum which develops pupils as well-rounded individuals.

The school curriculum is taught through exciting class topics. Curriculum plans follow the national curriculum and identify what should be taught and when. Staff are eager that learning is memorable.

The 'Wow' experiences at the beginning and end of each topic support this. For example, when learning about the Second World War, key stage 2 pupils had the opportunity to visit the Severn Valley railway and relive the experience of a child evacuee. However, curriculum plans lack the detail to ensure that pupils' learning is sufficiently sequenced.

The curriculum is enriched with a variety of experiences, such as singing at regional concerts, for example Young Voices, author visits and many others. Pupils are involved with the local community and take part in activities such as singing at the local church. Pupils also take part in charitable work and fundraising.

Pupils have visited places of worship as part of their learning in religious education. They speak confidently about the range of world religions they have learned about. Pupils have a good basic knowledge and understanding of world faiths.

The school's partnership with a school in Kenya provides further opportunities for pupils to work with children from another country and culture. This helps to broaden pupils' understanding of the world.

Phonics is taught daily from Reception to Year 2.

There is a clear structure to the teaching of phonics and pupils learn the letter sounds well. Pupils who find learning the sounds difficult are given extra support. Therefore, the majority of pupils learn to read well by the end of Year 1.

Pupils with SEND achieve well. Teachers provide challenging work for pupils with SEND and the extra classroom support enables pupils to keep up with the pace of the lesson. This area is a strength of the school.

But, in some lessons, the most able pupils do not achieve as well as they could. This is because, in some subjects, the work set is too easy for them.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Pupils' safety and well-being are taken very seriously by leaders and staff. Leaders keep oversight of all pupils and they act quickly when pupils need extra help. All the required safeguarding training is up to date.

Therefore, teachers know what to do if they have a concern about a child.

All statutory policies and procedures are in place and meet the needs of the pupils. All relevant checks on staff before they take up employment are made.

Staff teach pupils how to keep themselves safe, including when using the internet and around personal safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

In some classes, pupils are given work that is too easy for them. As a result, the most able pupils do not make as much progress as they could.

Leaders need to ensure that the most able pupils, in all classes, receive work that is better matched to their needs. . While the school has a broad and balanced curriculum in place, the curriculum plans are not yet detailed enough.

This means that, in some subjects, pupils' learning is not sufficiently well sequenced. Leaders need to ensure that curriculum plans are further developed in order that pupils' learning is more sequentially planned.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good/outstanding.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good school or non-exempt outstanding school. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find some evidence that the school could now be better than good or that standards may be declining, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will convert the section 8 inspection to a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the second section 8 inspection since the school was judged to be good on 3 March 2011.