St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

St Teresa's is a happy, welcoming place to learn. Pupils enjoy coming to school.

They build strong relationships with the kind and caring staff. This develops as pupils go through the school. Pupils understand that they can talk to staff if they are worried or upset.

Bullying rarely happens. When it does, staff deal with any incidents quickly.

Pupils behave sensibly.

They have positive attitudes to their learning. Pupils work hard in lessons because teachers usually set activities that are well matched to pupils' stages of learning. Younger children enjoy learning.

However, staff do not always teach children in Reception what they need to kn...ow and understand in a well-ordered way. This means they are not as ready for learning in Year 1 as they should be.

Pupils learn how to 'be kind, be safe, be responsible.'

Pupils are proud to carry out extra responsibilities around the school including being play leaders and lunchtime leaders. Pupils learn the importance of being kind and helping others.

Pupils attend school trips and have a range of clubs including running club and outdoor learning.

They learn a range of sports and attend competitions regularly. This helps to develop their talents and interests.

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

Leaders have developed a curriculum that sets out what pupils should learn and when.

In most classes, pupils are taught in logical steps so that they can build on previous knowledge and skills. However, this is not always the case in Reception. Subject leaders are passionate about their subject and support teachers to develop strong subject knowledge.

This means that staff typically explain things clearly for pupils and they ensure that pupils have work that helps them to achieve well.

Teaching staff ask questions to gauge what pupils have understood. In some subjects, staff do not effectively check what pupils have learned and remembered.

This means that some pupils develop gaps in their knowledge over time. Subject leaders do not check that the curriculum is being taught as intended from the early years. This means that pupils do not understand some important knowledge when entering Year 1.

Staff encourage pupils to develop a love of reading. Children in the early years learn phonics from the start. Leaders spot when pupils are falling behind with reading and provide support to ensure that younger pupils catch up and keep up.

Older pupils are supported to catch up by the end of Year 6, ensuring that they are ready for secondary school. Pupils read books that are closely matched to their reading stage which enables them to become fluent readers. Pupils enjoy reading and confidently talk about books they like and dislike.

Leaders have processes in place for identifying pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff ensure that most pupils with SEND learn the full range of subjects. Most staff help pupils with SEND to learn effectively.

Occasionally, staff do not have all of the information from leaders to adapt their teaching successfully for pupils with SEND.

Staff in the early years know children well. They establish positive relationships.

Leaders have planned a broad curriculum, but this is not always taught effectively. Children are not taught some important knowledge and vocabulary that subject leaders have decided needs to be learned. This means that children have some gaps in their learning and are not as ready for Year 1 as they should be.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Older pupils are great role models for the younger pupils. Children in the early years learn how to be a good friend and how to be kind.

Pupils are proud to be part of their school family. They value the rewards that they are given. Pupils enjoy celebrating together in the awards assembly.

Pupils have a variety of extra-curricular clubs to attend. They enjoy school trips that develop learning further; for example, the trip to Colchester castle linked to history. Pupils learn about other cultures and beliefs.

They learn about democracy and tolerance. This helps pupils to be well-rounded individuals. They are well prepared for life in modern Britain.

Staff are proud to work at St Teresa's. They value the support they get from leaders. Leaders think about staff's workload and well-being when making decisions.

Governors know the school well but do not always hold leaders to account as well as they could for the provision in early years. Governors are keen to work with school leaders to improve the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders have robust procedures in place to ensure that staff identify and report concerns quickly. Leaders act promptly on concerns to ensure that pupils and families get the support they need. There is a school wide culture of 'it could happen here'.

Leaders ensure that staff receive regular training so that they can spot early concerns. Leaders carry out the necessary checks when recruiting staff.

Pupils learn how to stay safe online.

They learn about online dangers and what to do if they are concerned or worried about something. Leaders ensure that pastoral support is available for all pupils.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some curriculum subjects, teachers are not checking on what pupils have learned and remembered.

As a result, teachers do not spot when pupils are not secure in their understanding. Pupils develop misconceptions and gaps in their knowledge. Leaders need to ensure that teachers check regularly what pupils can do and remember in all subjects.

• Teaching staff do not always have the information from leaders to support pupils with SEND effectively. This means that some pupils are not well supported with their learning. Leaders need to ensure that staff are well informed about the appropriate strategies to meet pupils needs so that all pupils with SEND achieve well.

• The curriculum in the early years is not being taught as set out by leaders. This means that children are not as well prepared for future learning as they should be. Leaders including governors, need to ensure that they check that the early years curriculum is being taught as leaders intend.

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