Toft Hill Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and carers typically praise the 'care and compassion' the school provides for their children. The school is highly valued by the local community.

The warm, nurturing ethos shines through the very positive relationships that exist between the school and the families it serves.

There are high aspirations for all pupils. From the early years, pupils are encouraged to be curious learners, physically active and have positive mental health.

They develop their academic and social skills well. They enthusiastically engage in the wide range of outdoor play and learning equipment during break-times. Pupils appreciate that teachers make learning fun and interest...ing.

Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend well. The school is a safe, calm and welcoming environment. Pupils are proud to earn 'gems' in recognition of their developing resilience, independence, empathy and responsibility.

Their behaviour is exemplary. They achieve well and are very well prepared for life beyond school.

Pupils participate in a variety of school clubs and activities, including crafts, computing and sports competitions.

They relish visiting a local charity project for various activities. These opportunities enrich the curriculum and inspire pupils to try something new. Pupils hold positions of responsibility.

These include as members of the school council, play leaders and sports captains.

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

The school has reviewed and revised the curriculum. Curriculum content is clearly structured and logically sequenced.

It is broad and ambitious. When possible, learning is tailored to the context of the school. For example, pupils learn about the history of lead mining in the local area.

Educational visits linked to the curriculum help pupils to relate their learning to life in their local and wider community. Pupils build and extend their knowledge and skills in different curriculum subjects from the early years to Year 6. There are regular opportunities for pupils to revisit and consolidate their learning.

The school has a well-deserved reputation for the effective and caring way it provides for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils' needs are identified and supported well. Leaders make sure that pupils with SEND can access the curriculum.

They are fully included in school life. Leaders seek external advice when necessary and work closely with parents to help pupils to achieve well and enjoy school.

Reading is high priority.

Staff teach phonics well. Children begin phonics in the Reception Year. Pupils' progress in phonics is checked carefully.

Staff provide effective extra support when needed. The joy of reading is promoted well. Leaders carefully select reading books for each class to read which celebrate diversity and link to topics of learning.

Pupils are avid readers. They show genuine enthusiasm for books and authors they enjoy. They talk excitedly about how stories they read in class inspire their writing and develop their imagination.

Children in the Reception class are immersed in the joy of listening to stories and rhymes. Staff model language and explain vocabulary to broaden children's understanding and develop their communication skills.

The school utilises the support from the local authority and external expertise well.

This includes with the teaching of writing and mathematics. Pupils learn to write with increasing maturity and fluency. There is a new structured approach to the teaching of mathematics, which starts in the early years.

It is helping pupils to become increasingly competent mathematicians. However, on occasion, learning in different curriculum subjects is not matched precisely to pupils' ability. This means that some pupils may not make the progress in lessons that they could.

Pupils' personal development is at the heart of everything the school does. There is an almost tangible determination to equip pupils well with the skills they need to succeed in life. This includes teaching pupils how to behave well.

Pupils develop very positive attitudes to learning and take pride in their roles of responsibility. They rise to the high expectations for their conduct and behaviour, which is exceptional. Pupils participate in experiences that promote their appreciation of life in the wider world.

They celebrate the joy of childhood through the 'Toft Hill Trail' of experiences to achieve before the go on to secondary school. They develop leadership skills through their different roles of responsibility. From the early years, there is a strong focus on equipping pupils with the right 'superpowers' to cope with the challenges they will face in life.

Pupils learn about potential career choices. They develop respect for others, including for religious beliefs and different types of relationships. They learn about potential risks and how to stay safe.

This includes online and from risks in the local community, such as railway and road safety. Pupils take part in a range of enrichment opportunities to support their wider learning and personal development. Year 6 pupils appreciate their outdoor adventure residential experience.

Governance of the school is strong. Governors know the school well. They ensure that all aspects of the school are focused on the best interests of pupils.

Leaders are considerate of staff's welfare and workload. Staff speak highly of the 'close-knit' school community.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• At times, learning is not sufficiently well matched to some pupils' needs. This means that some pupils may not make the progress in lessons that they could. The school should ensure that teachers' assessment of what pupils know and can do is used accurately and effectively, so that all pupils achieve the best possible outcomes.