Over St John’s CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Despite the absence of key staff, the headteacher has ensured that the priorities from the school's short inspection in January 2018 have been addressed effectively. Senior leaders and governors know the school well. They have created a nurturing and collaborative ethos at the school that is underpinned by the school's Christian values.

Teaching, learning and assessment are good. Teachers check on pupils' learning continually to support pupils who find their learning difficult. However, some of the most able pupils are not challenged to achieve the highest standards in writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 1 and key stage 2.

Lea...ders have brought about improvements to the teaching of mathematics across the school. As a result, pupils in all year groups make good progress. There is effective identification of, and support for, the growing number of pupils at the school with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

These pupils make good progress in subjects across the curriculum. Leaders have equipped pupils with an excellent understanding of British values and equality. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development also contributes to their outstanding personal development.

Leaders have established a broad and balanced curriculum. Subjects across the curriculum focus on developing pupils' skills well. Pupils have opportunities to study interesting and engaging topics.

In the early years, children are nurtured well to make good progress, often from starting points that are below, and sometimes well below, those that are typical for their age in communication, language and literacy. The quality of adult interactions in the early years directs and supports children well. However, adults' questions are too narrow.

There are lost opportunities for children to think more carefully about their learning. Governors have not questioned leaders well enough about the use of the pupil premium funding, particularly how it supports some of the less able disadvantaged pupils to develop a fluent reading style. Writing is not taught effectively in some parts of key stage 1.

This means that pupils' progress and attainment are not as good as they could otherwise be. Pupils are keen learners. They engage well in their work and their conduct is excellent.

Pupils feel safe because staff care for them well. There is a culture of vigilance in school so that pupils are kept safe from harm.

Information about this school

Over St John's is smaller than the average-sized primary school.

Since the school's last inspection, the deputy headteacher has left the school following a long period of absence. The member of staff responsible for the leadership of the pupil premium and science has been on maternity leave. The school's last section 48 inspection, which is an inspection of the school's religious character, took place in June 2015 as part of a continuing five-year cycle.

The proportion of pupils identified as having SEND has increased to be well above the national average, as has the proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan. The school's own information shows that 24% of pupils in the school have special educational needs and/or disabilities. An average proportion of pupils are eligible for the pupil premium.

The great majority of pupils are White British. The few pupils from minority ethnic groups all speak English as an additional language. The school is part of the Winsford Education Partnership, which is a group of local schools that work together to improve outcomes for pupils in Winsford.