Monkerton Community Primary School

Overview

Leaders have successfully established a new school ethos and curriculum since opening in 2020, creating a "nurturing environment" where pupils thrive. The inspection highlights an "ambitious curriculum" and "exemplary" behaviour, with staff demonstrating high expectations for all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• Pupils are "happy and enjoy coming to school," displaying politeness and respect within "very strong" relationships with staff.
• Children in early years get off to an "exceptionally strong start," benefiting from a curriculum that supports them to "excel" and sustain high engagement.
• Leaders are "highly ambitious" for pupils with SEND, accurately identifying needs and adapting learning so these pupils "build their knowledge well over time."
• Behaviour is "exemplary," with pupils showing high engagement, sharing well, and taking pride in acting as role models.
• Staff development is prioritised through a "relentless drive" for training, which supports staff well-being and workload management.

Areas to improve

• Some teachers do not use assessment "precisely enough" to determine what pupils know, meaning subsequent learning is not always adapted when needed.
• Teachers need to ensure gaps in knowledge are identified accurately so that all pupils can "deepen their understanding of the curriculum as well as they could."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with appropriate recruitment checks, regular staff training, and quick action taken to gain support from outside agencies when concerns arise.