Prudhoe Castle First School

Overview

Prudhoe Castle First School is described as a ‘little school with a big heart and big ambition’ where pupils ‘enjoy attending’ and ‘learn and play happily together’. Despite recent staffing changes, the school has implemented a ‘broad and well sequenced’ curriculum that enables pupils to ‘achieve well in most subjects’. The report highlights strong leadership, effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and a positive culture where pupils ‘behave well and treat each other with respect’.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘broad and well sequenced’, with staff possessing ‘strong subject knowledge’ and receiving ‘effective training’.
• Provision for pupils with SEND is ‘strong’, with early identification of needs and ‘effective support’ allowing most to ‘keep up with their peers’.
• Reading teaching has been ‘transformed’, with ‘strong’ phonics provision and quick intervention for pupils at risk of falling behind.
• Early years provision is a ‘strength’, offering a ‘strong start’ with well-planned activities that promote ‘strong communication and vocabulary development’.
• Personal development is thorough, helping pupils understand ‘fundamental British values’ and manage their feelings, resulting in ‘calm and purposeful’ lessons.

Areas to improve

• The school must prioritise improving ‘inconsistent’ standards of handwriting and presentation in pupils’ books.
• The school should continue reviewing the organisation of mathematics lessons to ensure pupils in mixed-age classes receive ‘rapid, accurate feedback’ when misconceptions arise.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.