Pontrhondda Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Pontrhondda Primary is a caring, supportive school at the heart of its community.

Staff work closely with pupils and families, listening to their views carefully and adapting provision to meet pupils' needs. Most pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) make strong progress from their individual starting points. Despite low literacy and numeracy skills on entry to school, many pupils make appropriate progress during their time at the school.

Provision for pupils' well-being and individual learning needs are strengths of the school. Staff have warm relationships with pupils, supporting them effectively to manage their emotions and feelings and to be resilient in their learning. Nearly all pupils display exemplary behavio...ur as a result of the school's compassionate and thoughtful ethos.

However, despite the school's efforts to make improvements, attendance levels remain too low. Teachers use an appropriate range of resources to teach literacy, numeracy, digital and Welsh skills. They develop pupils' speaking and listening skills effectively, often from low starting points.

However, pupils do not develop their writing skills well enough as they move through the school. This is due to the lack of opportunity to write at length and due to inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and assessment. The school has begun to develop its curriculum effectively in line with national requirements.

Overall, teachers plan stimulating activities that interest and engage pupils in their chosen topics. Whilst good use is made of visits to places of interest to stimulate pupils' curiosity, teachers do not provide pupils with sufficient opportunity to develop independence in their learning. The headteacher works effectively with governors and staff and provides strong and thoughtful leadership.

Leaders have a clear understanding of school strengths and areas for improvement. However, strategic actions do not always prioritise the areas in need of most attention. Recommendations R1 Sharpen school improvement strategies to ensure that they prioritise the areas that need most improvement R2 Improve the quality and consistency of teaching and assessment so that it supports pupils to improve their writing skills and develop independence in their learning R3 Improve attendance What happens next The school will draw up an action plan to address the recommendations from the inspection.