Ruswarp Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to school. They say that staff work hard and take care of them. Pupils get along well together and describe the school as 'one big family'.

This makes them feel safe and well supported. They know that staff would take their concerns seriously.

The school has an inclusive ethos where staff want to achieve the best for all pupils, particularly pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

However, the positive start that children receive in early years is not carried through to key stages 1 and 2. Although the curriculum is improving, pupils do not benefit from a sufficiently good quality of education. Expectations for wh...at pupils can learn and achieve are not high enough.

Pupils learn in a calm and settled atmosphere. Staff help pupils to learn about the wider world around them. Most pupils behave well and work hard.

This is particularly the case in early years. However, in the rest of school, a small number of pupils miss out on learning because they do not listen or complete tasks that have been set. These pupils can miss important learning.

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

Reading is an absolute priority. Leaders have ensured that all staff are experts in teaching phonics. Children get off to a flying start in Nursery, joining in enthusiastically with stories being read to them.

In Reception and Year 1, pupils have access to high-quality phonics sessions. Pupils enjoy opportunities to read with their teachers. Most books are well matched to pupils' abilities.

Leaders ensure that pupils who are falling behind are quickly identified. These pupils receive timely intervention so they can keep up with their peers. Pupils love reading and enjoy opportunities for reading in school.

They talk excitedly about the books they have read independently or with their teachers.

Leaders have recently undertaken work to improve the quality of the curriculum for writing. However, much of this work is either at the development stage or has only recently been implemented.

As a result, the impact cannot yet be seen. The quality of pupils' writing varies across the school and within classes. Expectations of what pupils can achieve are not consistently high enough.

However, there are signs of progress and by the end of Year 6, most pupils are writing at a level that prepares them for the next phase of their learning.

Although the school has adopted a well-structured mathematics curriculum, there is too much variation in its implementation. Sometimes, teachers move on too quickly before pupils have a secure understanding.

At other times, pupils spend too long going over the same topic when it is clear from their work that the concept is secure. This means that pupils are not making enough progress in their learning and are at risk of not covering the full mathematics curriculum. Leaders acknowledge that they need to check the teaching of the curriculum and curriculum coverage more frequently and robustly.

Pupils enjoy art and design. Leaders have recently introduced 'Arty Hour', during which pupils look at the work of artists and produce work informed by their style. Such changes are enhancing the art and design curriculum but remain in the early stages of development.

Pupils are able to talk about work they have completed recently but they struggle to recall what they have been taught previously in art and design.

Leaders are keen that pupils understand the world beyond their local area. An issue from the news is incorporated into collective worship each week.

Pupils then have time to discuss this with their peers. This, alongside a well-sequenced curriculum for personal development, is providing pupils with a good understanding of potential risks to their personal well-being and a 'window' into the lives of other people. Pupils enjoy the after-school offer but say that they would like more clubs than are currently being delivered.

The early years is a hive of activity. Eager learners hang on the words of their teachers. Children work happily together solving problems.

The environment is inviting and resources are placed so that children can work independently. The early years curriculum is well taught. Children are well prepared for learning in Year 1 as a result.

However, the school do not build on this strong start well enough at key stage one.

Pupils are at the heart of all decision-making. Senior leaders and governors are determined to improve the school and know that there is still work to be done.

Governors acknowledge that they need to review the educational offer of the school more thoroughly. Most parents are pleased with the school. However, some parents would like to receive more communication to help them understand the rationale behind the changes being made to improve the quality of education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have created a culture where safeguarding is the highest priority. All staff know the school's safeguarding policies and procedures well.

Pupils are taught how to stay safe. They know how to recognise and assess a range of different risks, including the potential risk posed by trains on the local railway line.

Pupils know what to do if they have a worry or concern.

They understand about personal space and how to deal with situations where they feel uncomfortable.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Many areas of the curriculum are at an early stage of development. There is too much variation in how the curriculum is implemented.

The school should take further action to ensure that all staff consistently implement the planned curriculum well. ? The curriculum in key stage 1 and 2 does not build sufficiently well on what children learn in the early years. This means that opportunities to develop pupils' learning over time are missed.

The school should ensure that learning builds from the early years through to Year 6 so that pupils build strong knowledge and skills over time. ? The quality of work produced by some pupils is not good enough. The school needs to raise expectations for what all pupils can achieve, including pupils with SEND.

• Some pupils do not to engage in lessons well enough or give adults the respect they deserve. This means that they can miss planned learning opportunities. The school needs to make sure all pupils behave positively and maintain focus in lessons so that they learn and achieve well.

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