Shobnall Primary & Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend this exceptional school. They thrive in their education and take an active part in all aspects of school life. This gives them a great sense of belonging.

They know the school is a special place to be and they love attending. The school's vision for 'happy children, inspired learners' is being realised to the full.

Pupils learn a broad range of subjects that they study in great depth.

They become engrossed in their studies and make excellent progress through the curriculum. They are knowledgeable. By the time they leave the school, pupils are fully equipped to be highly successful in the next stage of their education.

The s...chool is a joyful and purposeful place for pupils to learn. Bullying is not tolerated. As one pupil stated, 'If bullying happens, we are upstanders never bystanders.'

Adults know pupils and families well. They care about them and include them. This gives the school a strong community spirit.

Children from the early years onwards benefit from many high-quality experiences that boost their interests and talents. From art clubs to ballet lessons, karate to construction, staff go out of their way to arrange inspiring opportunities for everyone.

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

Subject leaders are experts in the curriculum areas they lead.

They draw on research and collaborate within professional networks. This has helped them design an ambitious curriculum that all pupils access. This work has included the school identifying the precise knowledge and vocabulary that pupils are expected to know and remember.

Pupils build this knowledge logically, step-by-step, to make progress over time. For example, in music, pupils in key stage 1 recognise the rhythm of a beat. They learn to represent such rhythms through pictures and patterns.

This means that they are well prepared to begin using formal musical notations in Year 3. By Year 6, they confidently describe how minims, crotchets and quavers can be used when composing music.

Teachers teach a series of lessons that deepen pupils' knowledge.

They provide clear explanations and model successful strategies and methods. They revisit prior learning and make regular recaps. This helps pupils to connect their learning over time.

In addition, adults regularly make checks on pupils' understanding and they act quickly to address any misconceptions. All this ensures that pupils make exceptional progress through the curriculum. They build an impressive knowledge of the subjects they study and can discuss a range of topics in a meaningful way.

The success of the curriculum is reflected well in the very high standards that pupils achieve in end of key stage tests.

The school's approach to teaching reading is highly effective. Staff begin this work right away in Nursery.

Children learn to distinguish between sounds and are immersed in a language-rich environment. The school's formal phonics curriculum builds on this solid foundation. Staff implement the phonics programme extremely well.

They ensure that pupils practise regularly and help them to pronounce and read sounds accurately. As a result, pupils become fluent readers by the time they reach Year 3. This builds their confidence and sparks their love of reading.

Most pupils are capable and accomplished readers by the time they move on to secondary education.

Staff have a deep understanding of the needs of pupils with special educational need and/or disabilities (SEND). They work determinedly to ensure these needs are met.

For example, teachers make careful adaptations to ensure that all pupils access the curriculum. They arrange for pupils with SEND to use additional resources that support their learning. These approaches are proving to be highly effective.

The curriculum sparks the interests of pupils with SEND. They make strong progress from their starting points.

Pupils focus sharply on learning in lessons.

They appreciate the recognition and rewards that they receive for their positive behaviour, but their primary motivation is that they really want to learn. They are interested in their education and eager to succeed. Their mature attitudes to learning are a distinct feature of the school's culture.

Leaders have placed serious emphasis on promoting pupils' personal development. For instance, pupils learn about the importance of well-being and positive mental health. They study the human brain and learn about how the mind works.

Pupils then experience the active promotion of their well-being through their lived experiences at the school. They look after one another and display empathy. Some act as 'happiness heroes' taking the lead in making the school a safe place to express emotions.

Leaders, including those responsible for governance, have fostered a vibrant school culture where everyone is valued. Staff appreciate the opportunities they have to professionally develop. Their morale is very high and they are rightly proud of their work.

Parents and carers also express extremely positive views about the school. They recognise that pupils are given every opportunity to reach their full potential and flourish.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.