The Knights Enham Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school is ambitious for what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can achieve. Despite this, pupils do not achieve as well as they should.

This is because important parts of the curriculum are not delivered well enough. As a result, many pupils requiring additional support do not rapidly catch up with age-expected learning. This is particularly the case in phonics, spelling and mathematics.

Consequently, they are not well prepared for secondary school.

Pupils strive to achieve the school values of 'collaboration, independence, nurture, resilience and respect'. Pupils understand what each of them mean, seei...ng mistakes as a chance to learn and try again.

They are typically kind to each other and show respect for members of their school community. Pupils told inspectors that 'help will be provided to everyone that needs it'. Pupils trust adults to help them feel safe and cared for.

Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities to learn new skills and talents, such as learning to play the trumpet in the brass band. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills though joining the school council or becoming an eco-warrior. Pupils value these roles as an opportunity to positively contribute to the school community.

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

There have been significant changes in staffing and leadership since the previous inspection. Every member of staff understands how to contribute to school's improvement priorities. Leaders are robustly responding to the previous low key stage 2 outcomes by making rapid improvements to the school's curriculum.

The governing body focuses on providing the right support to move the school forward. An example of this is though supporting leaders to improve the accuracy of information collected about pupils' learning.

The school's curriculum is ambitiously designed to cover the important skills and knowledge needed to prepare pupils for future learning.

Most pupils learn well in the foundation subjects. They learn to relate new learning to ideas they already know. This is also evident for pupils with SEND who benefit from the school's vigilance in identifying individual needs and providing effective support.

Teachers design learning to help all pupils apply their knowledge and practise their skills. This helps pupils to remember and discuss learning in detail.

However, not all pupils are yet able to learn the full curriculum in mathematics.

Teachers know that many pupils have gaps in their basic numeracy skills. Learning is designed to reteach these concepts. However, pupils are not being effectively supported to rapidly master these skills.

In some lessons, teachers are not precise when explaining reasoning behind mathematical procedures like division. Consequently, many pupils do not achieve as well as they should.

The school provides daily phonics catch up for the large number of pupils that need it.

However, staff do not swiftly move pupils on to new learning once they are competent.This means some pupils do not rapidly catch up to become confident and fluent readers. The school is taking appropriate action to improve pupils' reading comprehension.

Teachers model how to find information from texts and check pupils understand new vocabulary to help pupils explore their learning.

The school has secured rapid improvements in pupils' attendance. Effective work with parents and professionals focuses on reducing absence.

Staff are also consistent and fair when applying the clear behaviour policy. Pupils know about the importance of respecting each other's right to learn. Therefore, pupils pay attention and follow instructions.

Lessons are rarely disrupted, so pupils can learn.

The school's approach to pupils' personal development is a strength. Pupils are knowledgeable about keeping themselves safe and healthy.

Pupils demonstrate citizenship through leading playtime games for children from the infant school or helping plant trees in the community. Pupils are proud of themselves because staff recognise the important milestones that pupils achieve through trying hard. The school extends support for pupils to their families for example, through the weekly food pantry.

Pupils and parents enjoy cooking healthy meals together in the after-school cookery club. Staff, parents and pupils speak positively of the sense of community that permeates the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Staff do not provide the precise support that some pupils need to quickly and effectively close gaps in their phonics knowledge. This means that these pupils do not rapidly learn to read and spell appropriately for their age. The school should ensure that all staff have the expertise to identify and rapidly close the gaps in pupils' knowledge, so they are able to read and spell with fluency and confidence.

• Teachers do not ensure that all pupils access learning that enables them to apply mathematical knowledge, concepts and procedures appropriately for their age. This means a large number of pupils are not well prepared for key stage 3. The school must ensure that teachers have the expertise they need to swiftly close gaps in pupils' learning, enabling them to learn the age-appropriate knowledge they need.

• Teachers do not always present new learning in a clear and precise way. This means some pupils struggle to understand new learning with sufficient depth. The school must ensure that all staff have the expertise that they need to help pupils develop and retain a secure understanding.

• Assessment approaches in some subjects are not fully developed. This means that the school is not fully assured that all pupils are effectively learning the intended curriculum. The school should continue to strengthen how they assure themselves that the curriculum is being learned successfully by all pupils.

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