Runcorn All Saints CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud of their school. They said that it is friendly and welcomes everyone. Pupils know that staff care about them and will listen to any worries that they may have.

This helps pupils to feel happy and safe.

Teachers take time to help pupils get ready to learn each day. As a result, in lessons, pupils are enthusiastic and eager to learn.

Pupils behave well. Teachers have clear expectations for good behaviour. Pupils understand the rules.

These help them to make sensible choices. Pupils said that teachers act swiftly to resolve any issues of bullying or when other pupils make unkind comments.

Pupils, including those with special ed...ucational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well in some subjects due to leaders' high expectations.

However, pupils do not develop enough knowledge in all subjects. This is because of the variable quality of leaders' curriculum.

Pupils enjoy the responsibility of becoming reading ambassadors, eco-warriors and playground leaders.

They have opportunities to explore their interests through a range of clubs, such as sports and singing.

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

Leaders have a clear vision for their curriculum, which is ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils. In some subjects, leaders have considered the knowledge that pupils should learn and the order in which they should learn this information.

This helps pupils to achieve well. However, in other subjects, leaders' curriculum thinking is at an earlier stage. They have not identified the essential knowledge that pupils should learn.

This stops teachers from planning learning that builds on what pupils already know. It also hinders pupils' ability to know and remember more over time.

Some subject leaders are not sufficiently knowledgeable about the subject they lead.

This limits the level of support they can offer teachers to make sure that teaching activities match the planned curriculum. As a result, in these subjects, pupils are not able to build their knowledge as well as they should.

Teachers use assessment strategies carefully to check what pupils know and have remembered of the curriculum.

Teachers use this information to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and to inform future teaching.

Children start to develop their love of reading in the early years, through staff's well considered use of stories and rhymes. Older pupils talked confidently about their favourite books and authors.

Leaders have carefully planned the curriculum in phonics so that children learn new sounds in a logical order. Staff carefully select pupils' reading books to match the sounds that pupils learn in class. This helps pupils to develop their confidence and fluency in reading.

Staff are well trained and confident in their delivery of the phonics programme. Extra support is put in place quickly if pupils need to catch up.

Leaders plan a broad curriculum in the early years that provides children with the foundations for their later learning.

Staff's strong focus on developing children's vocabulary helps children to communicate their knowledge and ideas. Staff plan interesting and worthwhile curriculum activities to develop children's knowledge. For example, staff help children to practise using their mathematical knowledge of comparing the length of objects.

Pupils are considerate of one another in classrooms and when they are playing outside. Staff can focus on teaching without unnecessary distractions. If pupils' behaviour falls short of leaders' expectations, staff help pupils to understand how they can make better choices in the future.

Pupils said that staff help them to behave well.

Leaders support pupils to become active and responsible citizens who are keen to help others. Pupils support local charities and join in national charitable events.

They develop respect for people's differences. However, the curriculum provides pupils with limited opportunities to develop their full understanding of fundamental British values.

Governors are supportive of the school.

However, they do not provide the necessary long-term direction for the school's work or hold leaders to account effectively for the quality of education that pupils receive.

Staff value the support that they receive from leaders. They are proud to be part of the staff team at All Saints.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that safeguarding is of the highest importance to all staff. Leaders keep meticulous records of their work to keep pupils safe.

The school's safeguarding team keep staff informed of possible risks to pupils through regular, up-to-date training. This ensures that members of staff have the information that they need to spot signs of harm or neglect. Staff know how to record and communicate their concerns to leaders.

Pupils learn how to stay safe, for instance when they are using the internet or social media.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders' curriculum thinking is at the early stages for some subjects. They have not identified the essential knowledge that they want pupils to know and remember.

This hinders teachers from carefully planning learning that builds pupils' knowledge over time. Leaders should further develop the curriculum so that it enables pupils to know and remember more. ? Some subject leaders are not confident in their own subject-specific knowledge.

They are also inexperienced in subject leadership. Leaders should explore ways to ensure that subject leaders further develop their subject knowledge and subject leadership skills so that they can plan the curriculum in their subject more effectively and support other staff to deliver it well. ? Governors do not provide effective long-term direction for the school's work or hold leaders to account for the quality of education that pupils receive.

They should ensure that they improve their skills and knowledge so that they can provide more effective leadership. ? The personal development curriculum does not enable pupils to gain a keen understanding of British values. Leaders should ensure that pupils understand the importance of British values and what this means to them as citizens in modern society.

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