Childer Thornton Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The headteacher and governors have created a culture where only the best will do. Their vision and determination have been key to improving the school since the last inspection. Senior and middle leaders have excellent knowledge of national curriculum subjects.

They robustly monitor teaching and pupils' progress and attainment. They are instrumental in driving up standards. Governors are very knowledgeable about the school and hold leaders to account rigorously for the quality of education they provide.

They check closely teaching and pupils' achievement. Governors make strategic decisions based on first-hand knowledge of the scho...ol. The quality of teaching and learning is exceptionally strong throughout the school.

As a result, pupils' very high achievement has been sustained over a number of years. Staff benefit from excellent professional development, especially in English and mathematics. This ensures that their knowledge is constantly improved.

Inspirational leadership, combined with highly effective teaching in the early years, ensures that children make outstanding progress in a nurturing and stimulating environment. Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities make very strong progress because of highly focused teaching by a specialist teacher and skilled teaching assistants. Outcomes for pupils in all key stages are outstanding.

Pupils are articulate, love reading and talking about books, and enjoy the challenges posed by mathematics. They choose words creatively when writing. However, their presentation is not consistently neat.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They behave exceptionally well in lessons and at playtimes. They relish learning, engage fully in lessons and are keen to do well.

Pupils feel very safe and cared for in school. Leaders' knowledge of all pupils and effective partnerships with other agencies contribute to effective safeguarding. The use of specialist teachers and coaches for Spanish, art, music and physical education (PE) provides high-quality teaching and a broad curriculum, allowing pupils to make substantial progress from their starting points.

Leaders have enriched this provision with a vast range of extra-curricular activities which pupils and parents value. As one parent said, 'This allows all pupils to excel in something.' There

Information about this school

Childer Thornton Primary School is an average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is well below average, as is the number of disadvantaged pupils. The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is below average, as is the proportion of pupils with an education, health and care plan. The early years provision comprises a Nursery class and a Reception class.

The school meets the requirements on the publication of information on its website. The headteacher has been appointed as an associate school improvement adviser by the local authority and is providing support to other schools. The deputy headteacher has been appointed as a local authority moderator for the early years foundation stage.

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school club. Governors are currently consulting on proposals to covert to academy status. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for the attainment and progress of pupils in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6.