Lift Utterby

Overview

The report describes a small, inclusive school where pupils thrive in a "happy, safe and positive learning environment." Leaders have established high expectations for both personal and academic development, resulting in pupils who are "articulate" and well-prepared for secondary school. The inspection confirms that the school meets the expected standard across all key areas, with safeguarding standards fully met.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well, leaving with the knowledge needed for secondary school; disadvantaged pupils’ achievements are "at least in line with national outcomes."
• The curriculum is "ambitious, broad and balanced," with a strong focus on oracy skills that helps pupils use "subject-specific vocabulary well."
• Staff create a "calm and purposeful learning environment" where kindness is championed and bullying is not tolerated.
• Early reading is taught effectively, with a higher proportion of pupils passing the phonics screening check than nationally.
• Leaders actively seek collaboration with other schools and agencies, ensuring staff morale is high and workload is managed carefully.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should continue to work with parents to reduce the persistent absence of a small number of disadvantaged pupils.
• Leaders should ensure that staff training leads to "highly effective teaching across all subjects" consistently.
• Leaders should establish systems to check that children access the "breadth of the early years curriculum" during play opportunities.

Safeguarding

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