Westbury-on-Severn Church of England Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to this small, inclusive and friendly school. The values of 'kindness, respect, friendship and hope' are central to school life.

Pupils feel safe and value their friendships. Most parents and carers agree that the school is a positive place to be. One commented, 'My child loves this school.

They have grown so much since starting and developed in confidence, all thanks to the staff and support given.'

Pupils form secure relationships with adults. Most demonstrate positive attitudes to their learning.

When some pupils become distracted, staff deal with it quickly, so it does not interrupt learning. Adults support those who struggle... with their behaviour with consistency and sensitivity. Pupils are respectful and encouraged to be kind.

Carefully tailored pastoral provision enables those who need support with their resilience to become independent, confident learners.

Pupils appreciate the opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. A range of extra-curricular activities excite pupils.

These include drama, music, karate and sports clubs. Pupils enjoy going on school trips linked to the curriculum, including residential experiences. They like taking on areas of responsibility such as house captains, buddies and school council members.

Pupils are proud to talk of their personal achievements.

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

The school community, including governors, has high aspirations for all pupils. The motto, 'Small school, dreaming big', shines through.

Pupils develop knowledge and understanding of themselves and what they can achieve as well understanding the world around them. The majority of staff appreciate the support they receive to develop their expertise to aid pupils' learning.

The school places reading at the heart of the curriculum.

The profile of reading has significantly increased over the past few years. A carefully selected range of stories, songs and rhymes support children's early reading development from pre-school into the Reception Year. A structured and consistent approach to the teaching of phonics helps children become confident and proficient readers.

Books match the sounds children are learning. For those who struggle, careful checks on what they need to know enable staff to intervene to close gaps that occur. Older pupils enjoy reading.

They talk enthusiastically about the books they are reading. One pupil said that reading enables you to 'explore different places in your imagination'.

The school has developed an engaging and ambitious curriculum.

The curriculum maps out the content pupils will learn in each subject. The well-developed mathematics curriculum ensures effective levels of engagement. Pupils use their knowledge to deepen and secure their understanding over time.

In history, pupils have regular opportunities to recap and revisit work that helps them remember content in the long term. However, expectations of how pupils apply their writing skills through the curriculum are not consistent. As a result, pupils do not always apply what they have been learning in writing across the curriculum.

Assessment is used well to support pupils' development of their reading and mathematical skills, including in early years. However, across some wider curriculum subjects, checks on what pupils know and can do are not always used precisely enough. As a result, some pupils develop gaps in their curriculum knowledge.

The school monitors the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils with SEND receive relevant adaptations to their learning. For those with the most complex needs, the school ensures specific learning plans are in place to meet those needs.

As a result, pupils with SEND grow in confidence and experience success.

Pupils enjoy their social times. The wide range of playground resources has enhanced the opportunities for pupils to involve themselves in active play.

Pupils enjoy taking on the role of play ambassadors. They support and encourage all children of all ages to play together and take on the responsibility of looking after the playground environment.

Pupils have a highly secure understanding of other faiths and religions and know that it is good to be different.

They are developing their understanding of fundamental British values through voting for their own school values, and most recently, taking part in a mock election. The school involves members of the local community in pupils' personal development through leading clubs and the strong links with the local church.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some teachers' expectations of what pupils can achieve in writing are not high enough. As a result, pupils do not demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of key writing skills across wider curriculum subjects. The school needs to ensure all staff have the same high expectations for all pupils to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in writing and apply this across all subject areas.

• Assessment is not used precisely enough in some subjects across the wider curriculum. As a result, pupils have gaps in their knowledge. The school needs to ensure that staff use assessment effectively to know how to identify gaps and inform next steps in learning.

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