Trottiscliffe Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Trottiscliffe Church of England Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy school and are happy and highly motivated. Leaders and staff have created a supportive environment.

Many parents appreciate the 'family feel' that exists throughout the school. This helps pupils, including children in the Reception class and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to feel very safe and secure.

Pupils respond positively to leaders' high expectations for their achievement.

Leaders and staff have considered carefully what pupils need to know and be able to do to learn successfully.

Pupils... behave well in the classrooms. They can concentrate hard on their work during lessons.

Pupils recognise that staff are caring. Pupils are confident that staff would listen to them if they reported any concerns. Staff work quickly to resolve issues that pupils bring to their attention, including any bullying.

Pupils relish opportunities to try new things. Staff organise interesting school trips. These are linked closely to what pupils learn in class.

Pupils are proud to take on leadership roles such as sitting on the school council. They make a positive contribution to important school matters and develop an understanding of global issues.

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

Children in the early years get off to a very impressive start.

Leaders have developed the provision for children in the Reception class very effectively. They have ensured that the early years curriculum precisely identifies the important knowledge that children will learn. Pupils throughout the school benefit from an ambitious and usually well-sequenced curriculum.

This helps pupils to build detailed knowledge in a wide range of subjects. Pupils have regular opportunities to practise and develop their subject-specific skills. In a small number of subjects, the sequence in which pupils should learn new knowledge is not ordered effectively enough.

Reading is a high priority. Leaders have ensured that there is a consistent approach to teaching phonics. Children start to learn sounds and corresponding letters in daily lessons soon after they begin school in Reception.

Teachers make sure that the books that pupils are given to practise their reading are matched to the sounds that they know and are learning. This helps to improve pupils' fluency and confidence. Staff teach reading skilfully.

This means that they can provide extra help if pupils struggle to grasp new sounds or need to catch up quickly if they start to fall behind. Teachers check and assess pupils' understanding in lessons. This ensures that misconceptions are addressed quickly.

For example, staff listen to pupils reading aloud regularly. This helps staff to know how well pupils are progressing and where there are gaps in their knowledge.

The mathematics curriculum has aspirational goals for pupils.

It is coherently built and makes clear the important knowledge that pupils need to learn. Teachers improve pupils' mathematical knowledge and skills steadily. Pupils talk confidently about their learning in mathematics.

They demonstrate a wide range of mathematical knowledge and competence from an early age. This is because staff in the Reception class plan activities that incrementally build on what children have learned previously.

Leaders make sure that pupils with SEND are identified early and are supported effectively.

Teachers deploy a range of approaches to ensure that this group of pupils can access the full range of curriculum subjects. Teaching assistants provide appropriate support for pupils with SEND. The curriculum, where necessary, is carefully adapted to meet pupils' individual needs.

The school's programme for pupils' personal development has been designed thoughtfully. Pupils enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular activities that change each term. This encourages many pupils to attend.

Pupils understand the effect that their words and actions may have on others. For example, pupils and the wider school community raised money for a Ugandan school and church. This enabled the Ugandan community to buy the land on which these buildings are located.

Pupils understand how this ensured the long-term future of both the school and the church.

Staff model high expectations which support pupils to grow into responsible young people. There is very little low-level disruption in classrooms.

Pupils behave well in the playground and around school. From early years, pupils follow clear routines and expectations. They are polite and courteous.

Leaders and governors keep a careful watch on the workload of staff. Staff are proud to work at the school and hold leaders in very high regard. Staff say that they feel able to talk to leaders if they need additional time to complete their work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff know the pupils and families very well. They are constantly alert to spot any signs that may indicate a pupil may be at risk of harm.

Staff receive up-to-date and relevant training and guidance. They know how to report concerns and keep careful records.Leaders organise and plan timely and effective support for pupils and their wider families.

Leaders ensure that specialist help is provided when required.

School staff complete appropriate checks and carefully record information on those adults working or volunteering in school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a very small number of subjects, the curriculum is not sequenced sufficiently well.

Consequently, pupils do not achieve as well as they could in these subjects. Leaders need to ensure that in some subjects the design of the curriculum is strengthened, for example in computing.

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 second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in June 2013.