Rack House Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Rack House is a vibrant school with a strong community spirit.

Pupils are safe, happy and enjoy school. They behave exceptionally well. They are polite and respectful towards each other and the adults who teach them.

Leaders have high expectations for every pupil. The care and support that staff provide are of the highest quality.

Staff help pupils to learn how to look after themselves both physically and mentally.

They make regular checks on pupils' well-being. They teach pupils to understand the importance of respect and equality. This is evident in pupils' words and in their deeds.

Pupils told inspectors that bullying rarely happens. They... said that pupils help each other to resolve problems. Pupils said that if this does not work, a member of staff will always help and sort problems out.

Staff provide a wide range of experiences for pupils to develop their talents and interests. They use trips and residential visits to support pupils' learning. Pupils have the chance to participate in several after-school clubs and sporting competitions.

Older pupils also learn to play the steel drums.

There are many opportunities for pupils to take on extra responsibilities. This includes playground buddies, school councillors and eco warriors.

Pupils enjoy these important roles.

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

Leaders and staff are aspirational for all pupils at this school. They want to make sure that all pupils have the best possible education.

Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum. They have given careful thought to the content of each subject. They have worked with subject leaders to build curriculum plans that are well structured so that pupils' knowledge builds on their prior learning.

This is helping pupils to progress well through most curriculum areas. However, in a small number of subjects, there is a lack of precision about the knowledge that pupils need to acquire in each year group. This prevents pupils from making the progress that they could through these curriculum areas.

Leaders have made early reading a high priority and placed it at the heart of the school's curriculum. They have recently reviewed and strengthened the teaching of phonics. Staff have a good understanding of how pupils need to be supported to progress through the phonics curriculum.

They ensure that pupils can use their phonics knowledge to sound out unfamiliar words. Staff make sure that pupils read books that are matched to the sounds that they have learned. Careful, regular assessments help staff to identify any pupils who are struggling.

Staff provide additional support to help these pupils catch up quickly with their peers. The older pupils that inspectors met with talked enthusiastically about the books they are reading. They also had a good knowledge of authors and poets from different eras.

The good quality of education begins in the early years. Staff work effectively with parents and carers to ensure that children learn the school's routines and settle into school life quickly. Children enjoy exploring, playing and learning in the stimulating environment, both indoors and outdoors.

They listen closely when staff are reading stories and teaching them about mathematics. The wide range of interesting resources allow children to follow their interests.

Staff make regular assessments of pupils' needs and development.

This helps to identify those who are struggling with their well-being or aspects of their learning. The leader for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) works closely with teachers to identify the needs of these pupils and ensure that they have the right support. This ensures that pupils with SEND can access the same learning as their peers.

This also enables pupils who attend the special provision to spend part of each day working in class alongside their year-group peers.

Staff support pupils' personal development exceptionally well. They provide high-quality pastoral support and help pupils to develop respect for different lifestyles, religions and cultures.

Pupils also develop a strong understanding of the importance of healthy living.

Pupils behave extremely well. They have excellent attitudes to learning and behave impeccably during lessons, breaks and dinner times.

Governors share the headteacher's ambition and high expectations. They are knowledgeable about the school's policies and practice and provide both support and challenge to school leaders.

Staff are proud to work at the school.

They feel extremely well supported and appreciate of the steps that leaders take to consider staff workload.

Almost every parent who responded to Parent View, Ofsted's online questionnaire, would recommend the school to others. Their positive views are reflected in the written comments shared with inspectors.

One parent wrote, 'The staff are amazing. Kind, approachable and supportive'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The headteacher and governors make sure that staff are well trained in safeguarding matters. Staff understand how to respond if they have any concerns about a pupil's welfare or safety. Pupils are taught well about how to keep themselves safe.

For example, they have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe while working or playing online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not identified the precise knowledge that pupils need to acquire and the sequence in which this should be learned. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum plans detail exactly what pupils need to learn and how this learning should build on what they already know.