Acomb First School

Overview

Acomb First School continues to be a good school, described as the "pride of the local community" where pupils "thrive and flourish." The report highlights "highly ambitious and decisive leadership" under the current headteacher, which has driven significant improvements in curriculum and staff support since the previous inspection.

Strengths

• Staff possess "secure subject knowledge" and deliver a broad academic curriculum that develops pupils' personal and leadership skills.
• Reading is well-taught, with a "well-taught phonics curriculum" helping most pupils learn to read with fluency quickly.
• Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is "well-targeted," enabling them to access the curriculum alongside peers.
• Pupils behave well due to staff "high expectations," and families have "absolute confidence" that staff keep them safe.
• Leaders actively consider staff workload and well-being, with governors providing regular support to the headteacher.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must secure permanent staffing in the early years to fully develop curriculum planning, as current temporary arrangements limit progress in areas like personal, social and emotional development.
• Subject leaders need to refine assessment processes for recently introduced curriculums to check that pupils retain knowledge over time.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with robust checks on adults and staff who are alert to signs of risk.