Frome Valley CofE First School

Overview

Pupils enjoy attending this school and benefit from a "nurturing ethos" where adults care for them well. However, the "quality of education requires improvement" because teaching is variable and some pupils do not receive the support they need to learn effectively.

Strengths

• Pupils "behave well" and have "positive attitudes to learning," even when the curriculum is not well matched to their needs.
• The school offers a "broad and balanced curriculum" with clear systems for recapping knowledge, helping pupils recall learning well in some subjects.
• Pupils develop leadership skills through roles such as the eco-group and benefit from a range of clubs, including scootering and dance.
• Staff deal with low-level disruption immediately, maintaining a "calm and orderly" environment where pupils are polite and courteous.

Areas to improve

• The trust must ensure staff have the expertise to teach effectively, as some currently lack the skills to plan work that "deepens pupils’ knowledge."
• Staff must provide necessary adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who are sometimes given tasks that are "too hard" for them.
• The curriculum in the early years requires careful consideration to ensure learning builds sequentially from pre-school to the end of Reception, rather than remaining "too separate."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."