East Crompton St James CofE Primary School

Overview

The inspection describes a school where leaders and staff foster a "strong sense of belonging and community" through high expectations for behaviour and attendance. Pupils are "excited to learn" and feel safe, supported by "warm, caring relationships" and effective pastoral care. While safeguarding standards are met and inclusion is "at the heart of the school’s work," the report notes that teaching and pupil outcomes generally meet the expected standard, with specific areas requiring refinement to ensure consistent progress.

Strengths

• Attendance is promoted persistently, resulting in pupils attending "more frequently than the national average" and missing very few lessons.
• Behaviour is excellent, with pupils demonstrating "strong self-discipline" and incidents of bullying or discrimination being "extremely rare."
• Inclusion is highly effective, with leaders ensuring staff have the training to meet diverse needs and using additional funding to support disadvantaged pupils’ emotional and mental health.
• The early years curriculum places a "sharp emphasis on developing language and communication," helping children secure phonics knowledge and leave well prepared for Year 1.
• Staff feel supported by a "positive culture," with leaders paying due regard to workload and wellbeing.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure staff have the expertise to teach handwriting effectively and consistently so pupils develop the necessary accuracy and fluency.
• Teachers must use checks on learning to ensure pupils "secure key knowledge before moving on to new learning," particularly in subjects where recall is weaker.
• Governors need to look more closely at pupils’ outcomes, especially for disadvantaged pupils, to offer robust challenge.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.