West Heslerton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school is a warm and welcoming place to learn. Pupils, parents and staff are enormously proud to be part of the school community. Pupils are exceptionally kind and caring towards each other.

They have excellent relationships with their teachers. Staff know each pupil very well. Pupils arrive with a smile, ready for a day of learning and enjoyment.

The approach of the staff and the attitudes of the pupils reflect the Christian ethos of the school.

Leaders are ambitious for every pupil. They ensure that pupils study a well-planned curriculum.

Pupils benefit from a supportive learning environment. Pupils thrive and learn with enthusiasm. They achie...ve well.

Pupils love to read and enjoy every opportunity to do so. In the early years, children experience a joyful day of learning and discovery.

Parents and carers appreciate the high level of care and support given to pupils and their families.

This is especially so for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are unfailingly polite.

They talk with pride about their responsibilities and the many wider opportunities the school provides to develop their interests. Pupils are proud of the fact that the school respects difference.

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

Leaders have created an ambitious curriculum.

Pupils build important knowledge and skills across many subjects.

In the early years, children benefit from a carefully planned curriculum. Staff communicate in purposeful ways with children.

The learning environment supports learning. Children become curious and excited learners. By the end of Reception, children are well prepared for key stage 1.

Reading is at the heart of the curriculum. Pupils in Reception and Year 1 experience a structured approach to teaching phonics. Staff are highly skilled.

This means that teaching is focused and precise. Pupils learn sounds quickly. They confidently use this knowledge to read books matched to the sounds that they are learning.

Pupils who find reading difficult are quickly identified and given support to help them catch up.

Older pupils love to read and enjoy their teachers reading to them. They talk with confidence and insight about the books that they are reading.

Pupils recognise that reading is important. They talk confidently about learning skills, such as inference. They appreciate all of the opportunities that they have to read and highly value the school library.

Teachers are knowledgeable. They plan learning that builds over time. In some subjects, pupils revisit prior learning to help them remember important knowledge.

In these subjects, pupils have a very secure knowledge. They can discuss their learning with ease. For example, in mathematics, pupils show a deep knowledge and understanding of square numbers and fractions.

They also demonstrate expertise when recalling their times tables. However, in other subjects, such as computing, strategies to help pupils to remember important learning are less securely developed.

Every child is seen as unique in this highly inclusive school.

Staff are clear about individual pupils' needs. Staff are determined that barriers to learning are addressed. Pupils with SEND have clear support plans to ensure that targets are known by staff.

They are helped to learn successfully.

The school ensures that pupils behave in an exceptional way. Pupils manage their own behaviour well because they know what excellent behaviour is.

Throughout the day, they are focused on what they are doing and maximise every minute of their learning.

The school provides an environment in which pupils can flourish. Personal development is deeply rooted in the culture of the school.

It is woven through the curriculum. Learning is underpinned and enriched by visits and experiences that deliberately extend the pupils' experience of life. For example, pupils took part in a mock general election, supported by a visit from the local MP.

Pupils model tolerance and respect. They understand and value difference. They enjoy opportunities to be a leader.

Pupils are articulate when discussing the importance of values, such as democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They understand that everyone is unique and that our individual characteristics are protected by law. They have an excellent knowledge of different faiths and cultures.

All staff value the support that they receive. They appreciate that their well-being and workload are carefully considered by leaders. Parents are universally positive about the school.

They appreciate the support it provides to pupils and their families. One parent said, 'I feel both proud and lucky that my children are able to attend West Heslerton school.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• There is some variation in how well teaching helps pupils to remember important knowledge and skills. This means that pupils retain knowledge in some subjects better than in others. The school needs to develop strategies that enable pupils to remember important knowledge across all subjects and to check that this is happening.