Trinity St Stephen CofE Aided First School

Overview

Trinity St Stephen CofE Aided First School continues to be a good school, described as a ‘small and happy’ community where pupils feel safe and valued. Leaders have designed a broad curriculum with high expectations, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for their move to middle school through independence and character development.

Strengths

• Pupils describe the community as ‘kind’ and ‘considerate’, with bullying being ‘very rare’ and adults helping to ‘mend friendships’.
• The curriculum is broad and balanced, with significant recent improvements in mathematics and phonics teaching that help pupils ‘know and remember more’.
• Reading is a high priority; children learn phonics from reception, and staff provide targeted help to ensure pupils catch up quickly.
• Leaders build strong relationships with families and ensure pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive personalised support.
• Governors ensure the school is well led, with staff feeling supported and mindful of workload.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure all early reading books are ‘appropriately decodable’ so pupils learn to read fluently as quickly as possible.
• Leaders must ensure all teachers receive necessary training to strengthen subject knowledge in foundation subjects, ensuring pupils learn effectively across the curriculum.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff receive regular training, report worries promptly, and ensure pupils receive the help they need.