The Gateway Primary Free School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is a friendly school community where the trust values of 'All different, all equal together, improving on our best' are threaded through the whole school day. Pupils come happily into school, where they feel safe, flourish and achieve well.

They take pride in their work. This is because of the high expectations that staff have and the nurturing environment that has been created.

Pupils behave extremely well and are very polite.

Pupils are kind to each other. They look after their property with respect and, in doing so, keep the school tidy and well cared for. Pupils and staff build strong, trusting relationships.

Pupils are focused and attentive... in their lessons. Staff skilfully address any rare instances of poor behaviour.

The school's wider curricular offer goes beyond the classroom.

It enables all pupils to take part in carefully considered enrichment experiences. These support pupils' growing confidence and independence. Pupils develop their leadership skills, such as becoming pupil leaders, where they enjoy the opportunities they have to give out rewards and stickers to their peers for their hard work.

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

Leaders have designed a curriculum that is ambitious. From the early years upwards, leaders have ensured that pupils' knowledge builds gradually over time. This means that pupils are ready and well prepared for what they will learn next.

The school provides teachers with effective support and training. As a result, teachers in all year groups have strong subject knowledge. They teach the curriculum confidently.

Teachers provide pupils with plenty of opportunities to use important words and phrases that will help them in the future. This helps pupils to deepen their understanding of the different subjects they study. Pupils achieve well because teachers explain things clearly.

This includes children in the early years.

Teachers regularly check what pupils know and remember. Teachers adjust their teaching to close any gaps in pupils' understanding.

Teachers regularly ask questions to identify pupils who need extra help. Pupils can often recall what they have been taught in previous lessons. However, in a few subjects the school does not gather the information it needs about each aspect of the curriculum in order to evaluate what is going well and what needs to improve.

Reading is a high priority for the school across all subject areas. Staff teaching early reading are well trained and ensure that they teach the chosen scheme well. Pupils learn, step by step, the sounds that letters make.

They are proud to wear the stickers they get showing the sound that they have learned in the lesson. They continue to have opportunities throughout the day to repeat this learning, such as while lining up and walking in from playtime. Teachers check how well pupils are learning to read.

This means that they can quickly identify and provide effective additional support for pupils who need to catch up. This ensures that pupils become confident readers and are prepared well for the next stage of their learning. Pupils enjoy a wide selection of books.

They know which genres they prefer and read within and beyond those genres.

Pupils' behaviour is excellent. Right from the early years, children learn and follow the school's routines.

Pupils are highly engaged in their learning. They are extremely responsive to their teachers' instructions and guidance. Pupils are respectful to adults and each other in classrooms and around the school.

Lessons proceed without disruption, allowing pupils to learn and develop.

Provision for pupils' personal development is exceptional. From the early years upwards, pupils learn about relationships and healthy lifestyles in an age-appropriate way.

Pupils talk confidently about difference and equality as well as other aspects of the personal, social, health and economic education programme. A wide variety of enrichment opportunities are available, and appreciated by pupils. Pupils work with the secondary pupils.

This supports their transition and enhances their aspirations for their future.

Leaders identify the importance of pupils' attendance at school. They are doing all they can to promote positive attendance through communication and relationships with families.

As a result, pupils' attendance is improving.

The trust provides a clear structure for governance. Trustees and governors support and challenge leaders appropriately.

Staff, including those in the early stages of their teaching career, feel well supported by leaders and the trust. Staff feel valued and are proud to work in their community.

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 areas of the curriculum, the school does not check well enough what pupils have remembered. This means that the school is not clear how successfully pupils are meeting the aims of the curriculum. The school should ensure that checks demonstrate fully how well pupils are recalling and retaining the depth of knowledge intended.

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