Nunney First School

Overview

This ungraded inspection confirms that Nunney First School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school is described as a “small happy school” with a warm “family feel,” where pupils gain confidence and are treated as individuals. Leaders and staff successfully assure well-being, and the curriculum is “ambitious,” enabling pupils to connect knowledge across subjects.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum with enrichment opportunities, such as outdoor learning and residential visits, which helps them become “responsible citizens.”
• Staff maintain high expectations and use trust development programmes to ensure they have the “right skills and knowledge to teach effectively.”
• The school has successfully updated its phonics approach, with Reception children showing “genuine excitement” and those needing to catch up learning to decode accurately.
• Attendance has improved significantly, with persistent absence having “reduced markedly” through close work with parents.
• Every parent who responded to the online questionnaire would recommend the school, valuing clear communication about recent changes.

Areas to improve

• Some teaching does not adequately address misconceptions or gaps when they arise, nor does it always move pupils to more complex learning when ready, which “slows pupils’ learning down.”
• A minority of pupils do not apply their phonic knowledge to spell accurately, slowing the writing process; the trust should ensure pupils spell accurately earlier in their schooling.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”