St Stephen's CofE First School

Overview

St Stephen’s CofE First School is described as a “happy place in which to work and learn” where pupils feel safe and valued. The inspection found that the school provides a high-quality education with “high expectations for achievement” for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Leaders and staff work as a “united team” to ensure pupils achieve well and develop positively within a supportive community.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “highly ambitious, organised and detailed,” resulting in pupils’ knowledge being “securely embedded.”
• Pupils typically read fluently by the time they leave, supported by effective phonics training and early preparation in Nursery.
• Behaviour is excellent, with “calm” classrooms where pupils “work together happily” and respect one another.
• Early years provision is strong, with children flourishing through “clear routines” and “extremely high expectations.”
• Personal development is enriched by diverse opportunities, including forest school, residential trips, and clubs that build resilience and broaden understanding.

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure expectations for writing are “consistently applied across all subjects,” as errors in punctuation and formation are not routinely addressed in every area.

Safeguarding

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