Cherry Tree Primary School

Overview

The report describes a school where leaders have designed an “ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum” and established a positive culture in which pupils feel “safe and happy”. While teaching is generally effective and staff are supported, the inspection identifies that “too few pupils reach the level expected for their age” in core subjects and that attendance remains below national averages.

Strengths

• Leaders have created an “open culture” for safeguarding where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed”.
• The early years curriculum is “sequenced with precision”, helping children develop “curiosity, enthusiasm and positive attitudes to learning”.
• Staff provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, who “make suitable progress from their starting points”.
• Pupils demonstrate “genuine respect for others” and engage confidently in discussions about democracy and British values.
• Teachers receive “purposeful, subject-specific training” and adapt their practice to meet individual pupil needs.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure teachers “rectify gaps in older pupils’ writing skills” so pupils can communicate knowledge effectively.
• Leaders should improve pupil attendance, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, through closer work with families.
• Leaders need to address the fact that “too few pupils reach the level expected for their age” in reading, writing and mathematics.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders fulfilling their responsibilities and ensuring that “pupils are made safer and feel safe”.