Lucas Vale Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy and proud of their school. They are articulate and confident.

Leaders have created an inspiring environment where pupils' views are given importance. The school's values cover all aspects of school life, including the promoting of pupils' determination. Leaders encourage pupils to take risks and to learn from their mistakes.

Working relationships between staff and pupils are positive and respectful. Behaviour around the school is calm. Teachers have high expectations and pupils follow routines.

Leaders have created a curriculum which widely reflects pupils' heritage and the school community. They place high importance on helping pupils to und...erstand the world around them. Leaders have high aspirations for all pupils.

Pupils are safe in school. Leaders take any incidents of bullying seriously and deal with them swiftly. They ensure that pupils are taught about the effects of bullying, including in relationships.

Pupils have a strong understanding of the need to treat others with respect. Pupils typically said that if children were unkind, adults would help them to deal with problems.

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

The governing body and leadership team assess the strengths of the school accurately.

They know how to address any aspects of the school's work that they want to improve further. Leaders have created an ambitious curriculum for all pupils. They know the small steps in learning that pupils need to take to succeed in most subjects.

Leaders' curricular thinking across all subjects has identified end goals clearly. Subject leaders consider carefully the knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn.

Typically, teaching helps pupils to build on prior learning.

Teachers check that pupils understand important content. They address any misconceptions in pupils' understanding. However, sometimes, teaching does not ensure that pupils learn the intended curriculum securely.

As a result, teaching sometimes does not develop pupils' subject-specific knowledge and skills in depth.

Reading is given a high priority in the school. Leaders ensure that early reading is taught consistently across the school.

In early years, and in Years 1 and 2, pupils have regular phonics lessons. Teachers are skilled to help pupils accurately blend and segment sounds. Pupils practise reading books that are closely matched to the sounds they know.

Pupils who need additional support with reading are identified quickly. Staff help these pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to catch up. Leaders ensure pupils read a rich selection of class reading books.

Pupils enjoy reading sessions. They talk enthusiastically about different literary characters.

Children build strong mathematical foundations from early years onwards.

Teachers encourage children to develop mathematical language, including through focused activities and games. Leaders ensure that the mathematics curriculum is logically sequenced. Teachers make sure that pupils revisit prior learning to secure their knowledge.

Teachers use resources effectively to help pupils' understanding of key mathematical concepts.

Leaders have considered carefully pupils' experiences in the wider curriculum. Pupils visit museums and galleries to broaden their interests.

In early years, teachers support children to build secure knowledge across all areas of learning. For example, children in the Nursery were inspired by a visit from a nurse and interacted positively together in the hospital role play area.

Leaders are quick to identify the needs of pupils with SEND.

They work with external agencies and specialists effectively. This helps to develop staff's understanding of pupils' specific needs. Adults work effectively with pupils with SEND to enable them to access content in lessons.

However, sometimes, staff do not adapt teaching precisely to meet the needs of a few pupils with SEND. This hinders these pupils' understanding.

Teachers encourage pupils to discuss and share ideas.

This helps to develop pupils' speaking and listening skills well. Typically, pupils focus and concentrate with little disruption to learning. Leaders are looking at ways to improve the support for a minority of pupils who struggle to remain focused during lessons.

Pupils enjoy a range of activities at breaktime. Pupils are polite and well-mannered.

Leaders provide opportunities for pupils to take on responsibilities.

The school council works with leaders to help suggest and make changes to the school. For example, leaders have recently provided new playground equipment and more books for classes as a result of pupils' suggestions. Pupils engage in wider curriculum activities, including dance and music.

They participate in community events, such as the speaking competitions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders know pupils and families well.

Leaders are committed to supporting families and to dealing with any concerns quickly. When early support is required, leaders are tenacious in gaining help for pupils. Leaders work closely with external agencies to get the right help for families.

All staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Leaders provide thorough training. Staff know and follow the school's rigorous policies and practices well.

Leaders ensure that pupils are encouraged to stay safe online and in the local community.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teaching does not ensure that pupils learn the intended curriculum fully. Where this is the case, pupils' subject-specific cumulative knowledge and understanding are not built securely.

Leaders need to ensure that all teaching enables pupils to deepen their understanding in all subjects. ? Sometimes, the needs of a few pupils with SEND are not fully met in lessons when teaching is not effectively adapted for them. Leaders need to continue to provide training to staff so that all staff are confident to meet the specific needs of all pupils with SEND.

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