Tonge Moor Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils, including children in the early years, are proud and happy to attend Tonge Moor Primary Academy.

They arrive each day keen to get their learning underway. Pupils said that everyone is kind to each other and that they all become good friends.

Pupils show respect to all adults.

They explained that leaders have high expectations for all pupils' behaviour. Overall, pupils behave well. They feel confident to report any incidents of bullying to their teachers.

Leaders deal with any bullying incidents quickly and effectively. This helps pupils to feel safe in school.

Leaders have spent time establishing their expectations of what pupils can... and should achieve.

This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff have raised the bar for pupils' learning. As a result, pupils are achieving better across a range of subjects.

The provision for two-year-old children is also effective.

Pupils value the extra opportunities that they get to help other people in their local community. They enjoy the chance to fundraise for the local foodbank or to be part of the 'Worship Crew'.

Pupils take their leadership responsibilities seriously. Pupils also get the chance to become a prefect before they move on to secondary school.

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

Leaders and staff have worked closely together to develop the curriculum, including in the early years.

Across a range of subjects, the curriculum content is ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND. Beginning in the early years, leaders set out what knowledge and skills they wish for pupils and children to learn. The provision for two-year-old children is equally well designed.

As a result, pupils learn well and children in the early years flourish.

Teachers have secure subject knowledge. They design activities which help to deliver the curriculum effectively.

Teachers explain new learning clearly. They carefully use leaders' assessment systems to check whether pupils have understood new knowledge and concepts.

The leadership of the curriculum is secure overall.

Curriculum leaders know what needs to be taught in each year group. That said, in a small number of subjects, the checks that leaders make on how well teachers deliver the curriculum are not precise enough. On occasions, this prevents pupils from learning all that they could.

Even so, many pupils achieve well across the curriculum.

Leaders use a range of strategies to identify, assess and support pupils with SEND. Pupils with SEND access the same curriculum as their peers.

Leaders use a range of external agencies, when required, to help pupils with SEND to get exactly the right support that they need.

Leaders and staff make reading central to the curriculum. They promote reading at every opportunity.

Staff make regular recommendations to pupils about books that they might want to read. As a result, pupils read books by a wide range of different authors throughout their time at the school.

Leaders have implemented a rigorous phonic programme.

They ensure that reading begins at the earliest opportunity. In the Nursery class, children enjoy learning different songs and rhymes. This helps to introduce the initial sounds that they will need to begin to learn to read.

Staff receive ongoing training to help them deliver the programme. They identify pupils who may not be keeping up. Staff take every opportunity to ensure that pupils can catch up with their classmates.

That said, some of the books that pupils read contain sounds that they do not know securely. This affects how well some pupils understand their reading. It also hinders their fluency in reading.

Staff and pupils show mutual respect to each other. Children in early years learn how to play well with each other. Pupils engage well in their learning.

They concentrate on the activities that teachers prepare, and listen attentively. As a result, pupils, including children in the early years, can learn without interruption.

Leaders have designed an effective programme of wider personal development for pupils.

Pupils know about different religions. They show respect for all religions and for other cultures. Pupils also learn about different relationships.

In the early years, children learn about appropriate friendships. Pupils get plenty of opportunities to take part in clubs outside of lessons. They learn about how to look after their mental health.

Trustees, leaders, governors and staff form a united team. Staff morale is high across the school. Trustees, governors and leaders know what the school does well.

They work effectively to improve the quality of education for pupils. Staff report that trustees, governors and leaders consider their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and staff are vigilant in spotting any signs that pupils may be at risk of potential harm. All staff receive up-to-date safeguarding training. This helps them to identify changes in pupils' demeanour or behaviour.

Staff know how to report any concerns to leaders and they do this in a timely way. Leaders work well with different agencies to help provide pupils and their families with the support they need.

Pupils learn about how to keep themselves safe in the local area.

This includes online safety. Pupils know what actions to take if they come across unwanted information or images.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In one or two subjects, curriculum leaders are not checking in sufficient depth how well teachers are delivering the curriculum.

This means that, on occasions, some teachers do not deliver aspects of the curriculum as intended. This hinders the depth to which some pupils learn. Leaders should ensure that curriculum leaders establish how well the curriculum is being delivered, and advise teachers where changes should be made, so that pupils' learning is maximised.

• The books that some pupils read are occasionally not matched precisely enough to pupils' phonic knowledge. Therefore, some pupils' fluency in reading and their understanding of texts are not as secure as they could be. Leaders should ensure that the books pupils read are closely matched to their phonic knowledge.

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