St Andrew's CofE Primary School

Overview

St Andrew’s CofE Primary School continues to be a good school, providing a “happy and nurturing” environment where pupils feel safe and valued. The inspection confirms that leaders have created an “ambitious and well-planned curriculum” that aims to “grow learners” and foster a “real thirst for knowledge.”

Strengths

• The school environment is described as “calm and purposeful,” with pupils who are “considerate of each other’s needs” and where bullying is rare.
• Staff set “challenging work” and ensure learning is built systematically, with careful adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Early reading skills are developed effectively through a “clear system,” with staff well trained in phonics enabling pupils to make “strong gains.”
• Pupils gain a “good understanding of the wider world” and develop confidence through opportunities on school and eco councils.
• Leaders are alert to physical and mental health needs, providing support through therapists and a “much loved” therapy dog.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure a “clearly structured approach” for key stage 2 pupils who are not yet fluent readers, specifically by following a programme that develops reading skills in a “sequential way.”
• Staff need to identify “gaps in pupils’ phonic knowledge” to ensure these reading skills are effectively developed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders keeping diligent records and working closely with external agencies to ensure pupils know where to get help.