Leigh North Street Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy and hard-working at Leigh North Street Primary School.

Relationships between pupils and adults are friendly and respectful. Leaders have made reading a high priority. As a result, most pupils quickly become confident and fluent readers.

Pupils have a clear understanding of what bullying is. Incidents of bullying are incredibly rare. Pupils know that adults will address any concerns they raise.

Pupils' positive attitudes and good behaviour ensure that classrooms are purposeful and productive places to learn. Pupils are proud of their school.

All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit ...from an ambitious curriculum.

They enjoy learning to play musical instruments, having swimming lessons in the school's large pool and choosing books from the outdoor library. Pupils enjoy the many extra memorable experiences they receive such as dressing up days where they re-enact The Great Fire of London.

Pupils are given a wide range of responsibilities.

Jobs such as friendship ambassadors, prefects and recycling monitors allow them to make a useful contribution to the life of the school.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders are highly ambitious for all pupils. They have created a curriculum based on 'aspire' values, which aim to raise pupils' aspirations.

Leaders have created a well-understood behaviour policy which is applied consistently. As a result, pupils behave well. Pupils attend school regularly and on time.

Leaders ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge they need to teach early reading effectively. When children start school, they are taught how to match letters to sounds accurately. Teachers make regular checks to see how well children are doing.

The books that children read are matched to the sounds that they are taught. Pupils with SEND receive the additional support they need to be successful with learning to read. They often benefit from additional and effective small-group work, one-to-one reading with an adult and a computer-based reading system.

Older pupils enjoy reading. They read widely and with enthusiasm. Teachers choose texts carefully to broaden pupils' understanding and introduce them to different cultures and lifestyles.

The mathematics curriculum is well planned and is a strength of the school.Teachers present mathematical knowledge to pupils in a logical way that builds on previous learning. This helps pupils to remember what they have been taught.

As a result, pupils achieve well and become confident mathematicians. Pupils with SEND access work that is accurately matched to their needs.

In subjects such as history, science, and physical education (PE), leaders have carefully considered the order in which learning is introduced to pupils, so that it is well sequenced.

Teachers present new ideas which build on previous learning. Pupils can talk in detail about the things they have learned.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge.

They check on what pupils have understood. Assessment is used well in English and mathematics. However, in some other subjects, such as science and PE, assessment systems are still being developed.

Children in the early years learn in an engaging and well-organised environment.Adults are well trained. They ask children challenging questions to help children to think about their learning.

Adults have planned the curriculum around well-chosen books, which results in children being taught new and exciting vocabulary. Children who were drawing their favourite animals used the word 'predator' and explained that their animal was hiding in a tree to avoid being caught. Children learn the important knowledge and skills they need in the regular reading and mathematics lessons.

Leaders plan plenty of opportunities for children to practise their newly learned skills while they play. However, some parts of the early years curriculum are very new and are still being refined. Leaders are making sure that teachers plan work that fully equips children for Year 1.

Pupils have a secure understanding of British values, such as democracy and respect. They reflect these values in the way they treat one another. Leaders have prioritised pupils' physical and mental health.

Pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships. A wide range of extra-curricular clubs encourage pupils to stay active. Singing in the choir, performing in local theatres, and taking part in residential visits all help build character.

Staff are proud to work at Leigh North Street Primary School. They appreciate the consideration from leaders about workload and the help leaders provide to manage it. While their visits have been reduced due to COVID-19, governors know the school well.

They provide appropriate challenge for leaders. Parents appreciate the work of all staff. Most parents feel that their children are happy, safe, and well cared for.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that all staff have regular training. They provide safeguarding updates, so that the procedures for reporting concerns are well known.

All staff understand the risks their pupils face. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, including when using the internet.

Leaders keep detailed records about safeguarding and use the information well to help any pupils or families who need support.

Where appropriate, leaders involve other agencies to work with families in need.

Governors check that the systems in place to keep pupils safe are working.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Procedures for checking pupils' learning in some foundation subjects are not fully developed.

This means that gaps in pupils' knowledge and skills are not being constantly identified to enable all pupils to learn as well as possible. Leaders should continue improving their approach to assessment, so that pupils' knowledge and skills in all curriculum areas are checked accurately and the information used well to improve pupils' learning. ? While effective overall, leaders' intentions for the whole early years curriculum are very new.

This means that some children may not be as well prepared as they could be to make the transition to Year 1 across all areas of learning. Leaders should ensure that this work is completed. They need to ensure that the early years curriculum is taught in line with the school's wider curriculum map as they intend to enable more children to be fully ready for Year 1.

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