Spalding Parish Church of England Day School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school provides a nurturing environment in which pupils are happy and feel safe.

The school's motto, 'flourishing, fulfilling and inclusive', is at the heart of everyone's work. Pupils, including those who speak English as an additional language, rise to the very high expectations that the school has of them.

Pupils appreciate the diversity within the school community.

They build incredibly positive relationships with one another and with staff. In lessons and during social times, pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They listen attentively, show respect, and give their utmost when completing their work.

Classrooms buzz with purposeful learning.
<...br/>Pupils' time at school is enriched by many memorable experiences. They take part in an array of visits, which include going to The British Museum and to local businesses to learn about 'the world of work'.

Pupils love their challenge to 'make £5 grow', where they develop their enterprise skills. They make valuable contributions to the local community. These include writing letters as part of a transport project to ask for a school crossing patrol.

This was a successful venture. Pupils leave school at the end of Year 6 as thoughtful and knowledgeable individuals. They are extremely well prepared to embrace the challenges of the next stage of their education.

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

Since opening in December 2019, the school has developed to be an exceptional place for all pupils to thrive. Leaders have worked relentlessly to completely transform the school. They have made strategic changes to bring about significant improvements to all aspects of school life.

Leaders constantly review the school's work. They provide highly effective professional development opportunities for all staff. This has led to staff developing a high level of expertise and subject knowledge.

Pupils now receive a good quality of education.

The school has put in place an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of pupils well. The school's curriculum is underpinned by key 'drivers' that focus on making a difference to the school itself, the local community, and wider world.

In the majority of subjects, the knowledge that pupils must learn has been carefully identified. Staff emphasise the most important content to pupils in lessons. In turn, pupils confidently remember their learning.

However, in a small number of subjects, the curriculum does not set out as precisely what pupils must learn. Where this is the case, in these subjects, pupils are not learning the most important content, and their knowledge of these subjects is less secure.

Reading is central to the curriculum.

The school prioritises teaching pupils to read. The published performance data in 2023 showed that some pupils in Year 1 did not achieve as well as their peers nationally in phonics. A number of pupils joined the school during Year 1 who were new to speaking English.

The school has taken urgent action to improve pupils' outcomes in phonics. The phonics programme starts right at the beginning of the Reception Year. The school has ensured that this programme is carefully ordered and delivered consistently well.

Pupils who fall behind benefit from swift support to help them catch up quickly. Pupils, currently in the school, including those who speak English as an additional language, develop into confident and eager readers.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are carefully included in lessons alongside their peers.

Teachers expertly adapt resources and provide extra support when needed. Pupils with SEND thrive in this setting.

Children in the early years get off to an exceptional start.

They transition incredibly well into school from many settings. Staff get to know children as individuals. They use this knowledge to tailor each child's learning.

Regardless of their starting points, children make excellent progress. Children are extremely well prepared for Year 1.

Pupils live and breathe the school's values in all aspects of school life.

They are exceptionally well behaved. The school makes sure that pupils and their families understand the importance of attending school every day. Pupils have high attendance and love to come to school each day.

Leaders are relentless in their endeavour to develop pupils into responsible citizens of the world. Deliberately planned rich experiences ensure pupils have a deep-rooted understanding of concepts such as diversity and democracy. The personalised after-school experiences ensure that all pupils, including the most vulnerable, learn how to be responsible and resilient.

The school and trust unite to ensure an exceptional and memorable school experience for each and every pupil. Support and oversight from the trust have been instrumental in the school's success. Staff are incredibly proud to work at the school.

They appreciate all that the school does to help their well-being and workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, the curriculum requires further refinement.

The curriculum content is not as precise in these few subjects as it is in the others. Where this is the case, some pupils' knowledge is not secure, and they struggle to recall their learning. The school should precisely identify the essential knowledge and skills it intends pupils to learn, so that pupils know and remember more in these subjects.