Old Cleeve Church of England First School

Overview

Pupils “flourish” at this “friendly, family oriented” school, making a “flying start” in the nursery and achieving well across the curriculum. Leaders have successfully raised expectations and improved standards, creating a culture where staff feel valued and pupils demonstrate “strong attitudes to their learning.”

Strengths

• The early years provision is “highly effective” and “nurturing,” with a “rigorous curriculum” that prepares children exceptionally well for key stage 1.
• Reading is a high priority, supported by a “robust programme” and “high-quality texts” that help pupils learn to read rapidly and develop a love for books.
• Staff know pupils as individuals, tailoring learning to interests and starting points, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Pupils behave particularly well, with bullying described as “exceptionally rare,” and staff are praised for swiftly resolving any issues.
• Leaders have designed an effective curriculum with appropriate sequencing, ensuring pupils “remember relevant knowledge and achieve well.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should continue to embed and develop the new curriculum so that pupils’ outcomes improve across all subjects, as some elements remain new or overly focused on specific knowledge.
• In physical education, pupils need to learn more about tactics and how to make good decisions under pressure in games, rather than focusing solely on techniques.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “highly vigilant safeguarding culture,” robust policies, and well-trained staff who maintain detailed records and work effectively with other agencies.