The North Cotes Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

The North Cotes Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

One parent captured the sentiments of many parents and carers when they wrote: 'This is a little gem of a school.' Relationships are warm and trusting.

Pupils feel safe in this small, inclusive school. They say they enjoy coming to school, describing it as a happy and kind place to be. Pupils know they are well cared for.

One said: 'You can talk to staff about anything here, it's like a home from home.' Pupils appreciate that staff listen to any ideas, worries or concerns they may have.

Expectations are high.

Pupils respond well to them. ...They know the routines of the school well and promptly follow instructions from staff. Almost all pupils behave and attend well.

Moreover, they display positive attitudes towards learning and treating everyone equally. Pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. They embrace the British values, as well as upholding the school's Christian values, including respect, truth and forgiveness.

Pupils are a credit to the school.

The school is calm and orderly. Classrooms are inviting, with many purposeful displays that support learning, including in Reception.

Most pupils achieve well by the end of each key stage. However, sometimes pupils are not moved on to more challenging learning quickly enough.

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

The leadership of the school is strong and stable.

All pupils follow an ambitious, broad and inclusive curriculum. The school has ensured that this starts in the early years and builds towards the end of Year 6. Across most subjects, staff know exactly what is taught and when.

Leaders know that this work is not yet complete, but the school is well on the way. All staff contribute well to the school's new vision for the curriculum. Staff value the opportunities for professional learning.

These include attending local staff networks and other training opportunities. Staff morale is positive. Staff are proud to work at the school and speak warmly of the school's 'team spirit'.

The school has effective oversight of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These pupils' needs are well understood. The right amount of information is shared with staff so that all adults can support pupils with SEND effectively.

The school ensures that staff communicate with parents about their children's education.

Pupils enjoy reading at school. They relish opportunities to discuss whole-class reading and meeting established authors.

The school has invested in a wide range of texts to ensure that pupils read from different authors and genres which reflect social diversity. The school has developed a 'reading spine' which enables pupils to select reading books that are at the right level for them.

Children learn to read as soon as they start Reception.

The teaching of phonics and early reading is typically effective. Most pupils achieve the expected standard by the end of Year 1. Children in Reception identify letter sounds quickly.

Most pupils segment and blend words confidently. Regular checks mean that staff know precisely how well pupils are doing. Pupils who need extra help receive this daily.

However, sometimes pupils in Year 2 repeat phonics knowledge that they have already achieved in Year 1. When this happens, pupils are prevented from applying their understanding to new and more challenging texts.

Teachers have good subject knowledge.

They use this to plan interesting learning activities, which most pupils enjoy. Pupils say that lessons are well organised. Teachers and supporting adults question pupils well.

They typically identify, and swiftly remedy, any misconceptions that pupils develop. However, sometimes pupils can wait for too long before being moved on to more challenging learning. When this happens, and over time, pupils do not all achieve as well as they might across different subjects, including mathematics at key stage 2.

Children in Reception are well prepared for Year 1. They enjoy high-quality interactions with adults. Routines are well established.

Children benefit from a stimulating and well-organised learning environment.

The school takes pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural learning seriously. The school arranges special events to enrich pupils' wider learning experiences.

These include science days at a local secondary school and local opportunities for music performance. Leaders are developing opportunities to deepen pupils' knowledge of different cultures further. Most pupils enjoy taking part in clubs and activities, including gardening, morning kickstart and 'Artizan' crafts.

Governance at this school is strong. Governors have a precise understanding of the school's strengths and priorities for improvement. They have developed innovative ways of ensuring that they have the necessary information to hold school leaders to account.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Sometimes, despite the planned ambitious curriculum, teachers do not always ensure that learning activities are appropriately matched to pupils' current level of knowledge and understanding. On occasions, teachers do not move pupils on to more challenging work when they are ready.

As a result, some pupils do not develop their knowledge and understanding as fully as they might. The school should ensure that teachers know how best to help pupils build and develop their knowledge and understanding, so that all pupils can achieve as well as they can.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in July 2018.