West Rainton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school As a result of clear planning, good classroom routines and regular assessment, pupils are highly engaged in their learning and make good progress. Leaders have developed a rich, broad and balanced curriculum that develops pupils' knowledge and skills in English and mathematics and in a wide range of subjects.

Governors have a strong awareness of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. They provide clear support and challenge and closely monitor the impact of additional funding. The headteacher and her team have established an inclusive culture where every child matters.

Children are happy and confident, as they feel valued and s...upported. Leaders and governors have a deep understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities, which they take very seriously. Leaders have developed extremely close links with parents, carers and the wider community.

Parents greatly value the care their children receive and the varied opportunities that the school provides for them. Provision in the early years has shown consistent improvement over a three-year period. Leaders showed diligence and moral purpose in successfully taking responsibility for onsite nursery provision from September 2016.

Disadvantaged pupils and pupils who have special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities make good progress as a result of effective teaching, regular support and monitoring. Reading outcomes at the end of key stage 2 in 2017 were much weaker than the strong outcomes in 2016 and the typically good standards across the school. Sometimes, pupils, particularly the most able, are given work that lacks challenge.

Too few pupils reach greater depth in their learning across a range of subjects. Although showing sustained improvement, disadvantaged pupils are more likely to be absent than their peers.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website.

The school is much smaller than the average-sized primary school. The school has a governor-led nursery provision and offers places for two- and three-year-old children. In some year groups, the school has mixed-year classes.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is well above average. The proportion of pupils from Traveller and Gypsy/Roma families is above average. The proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities is average.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The school runs a breakfast club and runs after-school care for pupils. The school has a number of awards, including the Arts Mark Gold, the Basic Skills Quality Mark, the Association for Physical Education Quality Mark and the Inclusion Quality Mark.