Wainscott Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy belonging to the Wainscott family.

They said that it makes them feel happy, cared for and safe. Pupils understand and follow the school values of tolerance, resilience, curiosity and creativity well. Pupils are polite, well-mannered and thoughtful towards each other and staff.

The school's ethos is built on a strong culture of respect. Pupils, including children in the early years, support each other in their learning and play. They know that staff are there to help them if they have any worries or concerns.

The school has high expectations for pupils' achievement. Pupils know that they are expected to work hard and to succeed. They take pride in... their learning and this is reflected in the quality of work that they produce.

They are keen to talk about what they have learned. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), mostly achieve well across the curriculum.

Promoting pupils' wider experiences is a priority in the school.

Pupils enjoy holding positions of responsibility, such as play leaders, reading champions or being part of the pupil parliament. They know that their opinions matter and that they are listened to. Pupils across the school enjoy different sporting fixtures.

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

The trust has raised staff expectations of what pupils will achieve. It has supported the school to design a well-sequenced curriculum from Nursery to Year 6. Last year's key stage 2 results in reading and mathematics were well below the national average.

However, the improvements to the curriculum are enabling current pupils to progress well in their learning. As a result, pupils' current achievement is better than it has been previously.

In most subjects, for example in mathematics, science and history, curriculum thinking sets out exactly what pupils need to learn at each point.

Curriculum planning starts with what children will learn in early years. Staff are quick to identify pupils' additional needs. Pupils with SEND usually get the help that they need to learn well.

Teachers adapt learning carefully. For example, pupils are given extra adapted tasks, adult support or practical equipment to help them to learn. As a result, most pupils achieve well across the curriculum.

Staff use secure subject knowledge to promote pupils' language development. In the early years, adults know the needs of the children well and carefully model key vocabulary. Teachers encourage older pupils to use the vocabulary associated with specific subjects.

This helps them to learn the concepts and processes of each subject, alongside the key knowledge. For example, pupils learn to work scientifically, and how to consider different sources of evidence in history.

Most staff identify any gaps in pupils' knowledge well.

Where effective, precise checks help staff to spot gaps and misconceptions. They use this information to inform their teaching. This supports pupils to build their knowledge gradually over time.

However, not all staff check pupils' understanding with the required precision. As a result, some pupils develop gaps in their knowledge.

The school prioritises the teaching of reading.

This begins as soon as children start in Nursery or Reception. Well trained staff deliver the school's phonics programme effectively. The books that pupils read are carefully matched to the sounds they have learned.

Pupils who struggle to read are given helpful support to help them catch up. They quickly gain the knowledge and skills they need to become confident, fluent readers.

The school has developed a positive environment for learning.

In Nursery and Reception, routines are well established so that children quickly develop high levels of personal care and independence. In older year groups, almost all pupils behave well, including in lessons. Pupils who find it difficult to manage their behaviour are supported effectively by skilled staff.

Pupils' personal development is promoted well. Pupils understand what to do to keep physically and mentally healthy. They develop a firm sense of right and wrong through shared stories and purposeful discussions.

The school provides regular opportunities for pupils to contribute to and learn about the local community. Pupils learn to be respectful of others by studying a wide range of different faiths and cultures.

The school's ambition to provide a good quality of education for all pupils is being realised.

Staff are positive about the trust's high-quality training, which has supported them to strengthen their teaching. The school is determined to address aspects of the curriculum that need further refinement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Sometimes, teachers do not use the most effective strategies to check how well pupils are learning the curriculum. This means that some pupils are not supported to learn as well as they could. The school needs to improve teachers' pedagogical knowledge so that they can support all pupils to know and remember more and learn well across the whole curriculum.