Stonebow Primary School Loughborough

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Stonebow is a happy school. Pupils love how well everyone gets on and how kind the teachers are to them.

The school is calm and settled.

Pupils behave well. They have great fun playing together outside. Many join in with the different activities led by the sports coach.

They appreciate the exciting outdoor play area. Pupils feel safe at school. They say that there is very little bullying.

If it occurs, it is soon sorted out.

Staff expect all pupils to achieve well. Work is challenging for them.

Pupils have lots of exciting events to look to forward to. When we visited the school, 'Greek soldiers' were telling pupils about life in An...cient Greece. Earlier the same week, another class had enjoyed a day that was all about India.

Pupils and parents say that the school is like a big family. Events such as 'Bedtime Stories' and those put on by 'The Friends of Stonebow' are popular. The school is at the heart of the community.

The school celebrates the achievement of pupils whose behaviour reflects the 'Stonebow Powers'. These include 'respect', 'enthusiasm' and 'cooperation'. Choosing just one pupil from each class each week is a difficult task!

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

Leaders have continued to improve the school since the last inspection.

They expect everyone to do their best. Staff work together as a team so that they can meet the needs of all pupils. They say that leaders are effective in their role and are mindful of the work-life balance of staff.

Children soon settle into the Reception Year. At the time of the inspection, they had only been in school a few days. They were already learning and playing together.

Staff are kind and friendly. They meet with parents so that they get to know each child's personality and needs. Children have great places to learn, both inside and outdoors.

Getting pupils to read well is the school's number one learning priority. Teachers make learning to read fun. They help any who are struggling with reading to catch up.

We saw them using toys and the Goldilocks story to help children learn about the sounds that letters make. Children learn all they need to be ready for Year 1.

Teachers in key stage 1 continue to teach early reading skills well.

Teachers help pupils so they can read with understanding. Daily story-time sessions are very popular with pupils. They help pupils become keen readers.

Pupils achieve well in this subject.

In mathematics, teachers make sure that pupils build up their skills step by step. Pupils know their number facts and times tables.

However, pupils' achievement in this subject is not quite as high as in reading and writing. To do even better, they need more chances to use their number skills to solve tricky problems.

Science is a strength of the curriculum.

Pupils build up their knowledge and skills over time. They can remember science they were taught when they were younger. They enjoy testing their ideas and carrying out experiments.

In most subjects, lessons build well upon what pupils have learned before. For example, in history, pupils connect what they learned about the Anglo-Saxons with Britain in Victorian times. This deepens their understanding of how family life changed over the centuries.

Mostly, teachers check on how well pupils are learning. They make sure that pupils who may be falling behind get the help to catch up. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities get any extra support they need.

In music and in design and technology, leaders have not planned a curriculum that builds on pupils' knowledge and understanding. There are some gaps in the things that pupils know. Teachers do not check and address this sufficiently well.

Pupils enjoy their music lessons. However, not all of them have sufficient chance to learn to play instruments.

Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school.

They want to do their best and they work well together. Pupil's personal development is good. Pupils are taught British values and are shown how to respect others.

There are lots of different clubs that help them keep fit. There are also clubs where pupils enjoy things, such as singing, that interest them. Pupils are given opportunities to help out in school, such as joining the 'eco warriors' and 'well-being champions'.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

All staff are trained on how to spot signs that pupils may be at risk of harm. Staff immediately report any concerns to the safeguarding leaders.

These leaders decide on the next steps. Leaders are persistent in getting expert help to protect pupils from harm. In lessons and assemblies, pupils learn about the risks to their welfare they may face.

They learn how to stay safe online. They get lots of advice on what to do if there are things at school or outside of school that worry them.

What does the school need to do to improve?

The mathematics curriculum should include more opportunities for pupils to apply their knowledge to reason and solve problems with fluency.

. In music and design and technology, the curriculum should systematically build pupils' knowledge in these subjects, providing more opportunities for pupils to develop their skills as they move through the school. Assessment of pupils' progress in these subjects should be improved so that they are in line with other areas of the curriculum, so that leaders are clear how well different pupils are doing and can adjust their plans accordingly.

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