Rushbrook Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy at this warm and caring school. They know that staff will listen to them. Pupils appreciate the care and guidance that is offered to them by the school.

The school is ambitious for the achievement of its pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils display positive attitudes towards their learning. They achieve well in most subjects.

Pupils are polite and well mannered. They are confident and articulate, including when speaking with visitors. Classrooms are typically calm.

This helps pupils to do their best in lessons.

Pupils have a clear understanding of fundamental British values. They a...re aware of the differences between people and that it is important to respect everyone equally.

They have a keen sense of fairness and said that everyone is included at their school.

Pupils revel in their leadership responsibilities, including acting as happiness ambassadors or members of the school parliament. An increasing number of educational visits enhance pupils' learning across the curriculum.

Pupils enjoy attending a wide range of after-school clubs, including athletics, dance and choir.

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

The school has worked successfully with the trust to secure improvements to the quality of its curriculum. Trustees and members of the local governing body have an accurate picture of the work of the school.

They hold the school to account for its work.

The school has designed an ambitious curriculum that meets the learning needs of pupils, including those with SEND. The curriculum provides clarity for teachers about the knowledge that they should teach to pupils and when they should do so.

Children in the Nursery and Reception classes gain a positive start to their education. They settle into school life quickly due to the strong relationships that they enjoy with staff.

The curriculum is taught well.

Staff have the expertise that they need to help children in the early years and pupils in key stages 1 and 2 to learn curriculum content. Staff check on pupils' learning and identify misconceptions quickly. This means that pupils achieve well.

Staff have been trained to help pupils to remember and recall what they have learned. However, in some subjects, some teachers do not use these strategies consistently well. This means that pupils sometimes struggle to remember what has been taught.

At these times, they find it tricky to make connections between their prior learning and new subject content.Reading has a high profile. The school focuses effectively on staff developing pupils' love of books.

Pupils recall the books that they have read at school. They talked confidently about which authors they prefer. Older pupils read widely and with fluency and confidence.

Children in the early years and pupils in key stage 1 have many opportunities to listen to stories and rhymes that are read to them by staff. This helps children in the Nursery class to build a secure knowledge of sounds. Children make a quick start on the phonics programme when they move into the Reception class.

Staff deliver the well-structured phonics programme in the early years and in key stage 1 effectively. Pupils read from books that include the sounds that they have already learned. Teachers spot pupils who are not keeping up with the programme swiftly and help them to catch up.

The school identifies the additional needs of pupils with SEND at the earliest possible opportunity. It ensures that comprehensive and well-designed support is put in place for these pupils. The school checks the effectiveness of staff's support rigorously.

Pupils with SEND participate in all aspects of school life. These pupils achieve well.

Pupils' positive behaviour and their improving levels of attendance at school support their learning.

The school works successfully with families to resolve any issues in pupils' attendance. The majority of pupils are attentive during lessons. They understand and follow well-established classroom routines.

Pupils show respect, manners and courtesy when talking to other pupils and adults.

The school's support for pupils' wider development and well-being is highly effective. Pupils have a strong understanding of how to stay safe when working and playing online.

The school has carefully established a range of activities to prepare pupils for their future lives, such as attending careers days at a local university.

Staff are proud to work at the school. They value the strong relationships and teamwork with their colleagues.

Staff appreciate the many training opportunities that the school provides for them. The school considers staff's workload to help them to fulfil their responsibilities.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, staff do not help pupils to recap their learning well enough. As a result, some pupils are less able to remember what they have previously been taught. The school should ensure that staff provide greater opportunities for pupils to recall what they have been taught so that they can know and remember more over time.