The Roebuck School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are exceptionally well cared for by the adults in school. Some pupils join the school at different times in the year. For many of these pupils, English is not their main language.

They are warmly welcomed into this lively school community, where diversity is celebrated. These pupils quickly feel confident in their new surroundings.

Pupils are happy in school.

They enjoy their playtimes. They join in games or choose quieter activities. This supports them to keep physically and mentally healthy.

Typically, pupils behave well at playtimes. If their play becomes too boisterous, well-trained adults help pupils to make the right choices. Pupils appr...eciate this support.

It helps them to feel safe. They said that teachers deal with any behavioural incidents, including bullying, fairly and effectively.

Leaders have high expectations for pupils.

They have improved the curriculum to help pupils to know and remember more. The early years curriculum has been well thought through to meet children's needs. This means that children are well prepared for key stage 1.

Any pupils who need extra support get it quickly. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as well as those who are learning to speak English.

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

Leaders have improved the way the curriculum is designed and led.

The result is a well-organised curriculum that meets the needs and interests of the pupils. Subject leaders are passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. They have given careful thought to building pupils' knowledge within and across the mixed-age classes.

Leaders' plans develop pupils' vocabulary across all subjects and broaden their experiences. However, some pupils do not attend school regularly. These pupils do not benefit fully from leaders' ambitious curriculum.

The curriculum in some subjects is well established. Leaders have provided teachers with the support that they need to deliver this well. Teachers carefully introduce, check and revisit the knowledge that pupils need to know and remember.

Pupils, including pupils with SEND, talked enthusiastically about their learning in these subjects. In other subjects, pupils' knowledge has not built as well over time. Leaders have thought carefully about why pupils have gaps in their knowledge.

They have refined their curriculum plans in response. However, these changes are more recent and not fully embedded.

Pupils are taught to read by well-trained staff.

Children are introduced to phonics sessions in the Reception Year. They take part enthusiastically and quickly learn new letters and sounds. The books that pupils are given to read are carefully chosen to match the sounds they are learning.

Pupils who need extra support have regular opportunities to read to adults. This helps them to develop their fluency and confidence.

Staff throughout the school identify pupils who may have SEND well and provide effective support for them.

This helps these pupils to learn alongside their classmates. All pupils are expected to try their best. This includes those pupils with SEND who find it difficult to manage their behaviour.

Staff are skilled at giving these pupils the support that they need so that they can get the most from their lessons.Pupils know that adults expect them to behave well. The youngest children listen carefully to the adults and work and play together well.

Older pupils know they should be 'ready, respectful and responsible'. They try hard to live up to these expectations. Pupils walk up and down the stairs sensibly and return into school calmly after playtimes.

This allows lessons to get off to a brisk start and to continue uninterrupted.

Leaders carefully consider pupils' wider development. Leaders ensure that pupils benefit from the high-quality opportunities on offer.

These include trips, clubs and music lessons. Pupils enjoy learning about other cultures in subjects such as art and geography. They develop a secure understanding of what is right and wrong.

This includes when thinking about issues such as knife crime and about what makes a healthy relationship. Pupils are well prepared for their future lives.

Leaders and governors know what is working well and what needs to improve.

They have clear plans in place to bring about improvements. Staff are all on board. They value the opportunities they have been given to develop professionally.

Staff appreciate that leaders are considerate of their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders know their school community exceptionally well.

Staff are trained to spot the signs that a pupil may be at risk of harm. Leaders are persistent in following up any concerns raised. They work closely with a range of external agencies to provide support for pupils, and their families, should this be needed.

Pupils also benefit from the effective pastoral support provided by the family support worker.

Leaders have carefully designed the curriculum to teach pupils about safety, including personal safety. Pupils feel confident to share any concerns that they may have with their teachers and other school staff.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, leaders have only recently refined their curriculum thinking to identify the key knowledge that pupils need to know and remember. Pupils have not built up a rich body of knowledge in each subject as a result. Leaders should ensure that new curriculums are fully implemented.

This will help pupils to build on what they know and can do in all subjects as they move through the school. Some pupils have very low attendance. Consequently, their learning is disrupted.

Leaders have made pupils' attendance a priority, but there is more work to do. Leaders should continue to work with parents, carers and other agencies to ensure that all pupils attend regularly. This will support pupils to achieve as well as they can.

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