Wood’s Foundation CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils' behaviour and attitudes are exemplary. The school has high expectations of all pupils and all pupils have high expectations of themselves.

The school values of love, peace, respect, patience, kindness and perseverance are the firm foundation for this. Pupils are reflective. As one pupil described, 'If you are unsure of something and don't know it's the right thing, you can take it upon yourself and think about the school values and then think.

.. I am going to be those things.'

The school's inclusive Christian ethos helps pupils to flourish. Pupils are happy and safe.

The school is ambitious for all pupils to achieve well.

Pupils lo...ve school and take pride in their work. They enjoy the engaging lessons the school provides. Pupils concentrate and work hard.

Those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well alongside their peers.

This is a school at the very heart of its community. Parents and carers value the quality of education their children receive.

One parent, typical of many, shared, 'We love the school and admire the friendly staff who so obviously care about the children and are passionate about their development.'

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

The school has designed an ambitious reading curriculum. Pupils have a highly positive attitude to reading.

They enjoy reading books by a rich and varied range of authors. Books are carefully selected to reflect the school values. The library is an inviting and valued space for reading in school.

Pupils enjoy lessons, where they learn new sounds to help them read. They quickly become accurate readers. Pupils with SEND are well supported.

Pupils who need extra help receive effective support so they do not fall behind their peers. The school ensures that pupils read books matched to the sounds they know.

The school has set out a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils.

Staff consistently use activities to help pupils recall prior learning. Pupils appreciate this help and are able to use subject-specific vocabulary to share their secure knowledge. They also become independent learners, as they use their books to look back and check their own understanding.

The school has introduced a range of strategies to check the impact the curriculum has on pupils' achievements over time. Some of these are fairly new. The school is still developing and improving its approach to assessment in some subjects.

Teachers are not always secure in which aspects of pupils' knowledge might be developed even further. Therefore, some pupils do not achieve as well as they might in securing the highest standards of understanding.

Children make a strong start in the early years.

The school has transformed its early years curriculum. Staff use a carefully selected range of indoor and outdoor activities that help children to learn the curriculum. Adults nurture children's curiosity.

For example, they help children to observe and ask questions about how plants grow and then support them to describe the process using accurate vocabulary. Children immerse themselves in learning. They concentrate on tasks independently.

Relationships between adults and children are caring. Children work collaboratively together.

The school successfully encourages pupils to attend school.

The school goes above and beyond to understand any barriers to pupils' attending school. Families and pupils benefit from excellent support.

The school ensures that pupils' wider development is a priority.

Pupils learn about protected characteristics. This helps pupils to talk passionately about equality. Pupils are respectful of different religions and beliefs.

The school teaches pupils about safety, including road and internet safety. Pupils' leadership skills thrive as a result of the responsibilities they have. They take up roles as faith champions, sports leaders and school councillors.

Pupils take pride in helping to lead collective worship and running their own faith club. They fundraise and contribute to church services in the community.

Pupils' behaviour is exceptional.

They are polite and courteous. They are respectful and understanding of disabilities or different needs. They are very proud of how they ensure that all pupils have a friend at playtime.

Pupils contribute significantly to the school culture. They welcome anyone who is new to their school.

Governors hold leaders to account and understand their statutory responsibilities.

They check on improvements the school is making. They ensure that parent and staff views are used to inform improvements to the school. Staff, including those new to teaching, feel well supported by leaders.

They benefit from high-quality training.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school is still developing and improving its approach to assessment in some subjects.

In those subjects, teachers do not yet routinely identify which aspects of important knowledge pupils could deepen their understanding of. Pupils therefore, on occasions, do not achieve the highest standards of understanding that they might. The school needs to ensure that the use of assessment across all subjects helps pupils to achieve as well as they can.

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