St Clement's and St John's Church of England Infant School

Inspection of a good school: St Clement’s and St John’s Church of England Infant School St Clement’s Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 4DZ

p.1

Outcome

St Clement’s and St John’s Church of England Infant School continues to be a good school.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils at St Clement’s and St John’s thrive at this friendly and inclusive school. Staff know each pupil well. Relationships between adults and pupils are strong. Pupils treat each other with care and respect. They say that everyone feels safe and that staff care for them.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have placed the school’s distinctive ethos at the centre of learning. Pupils demonstrate the ‘golden anchor’ values of confidence, compassion, creativity and curiosity. Staff have high expectations. Pupils behave well and the environment is calm and purposeful. Pupils listen carefully to instructions and are keen to learn. They enjoy earning certificates and stickers for making good choices about their work or behaviour.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils socialise happily with one another. They engage in games that develop their teamwork skills. They say that, if bullying happens, staff sort it out quickly. Pupils enjoy taking on responsibilities, such as being school councillors and spirituality leaders. They are confident to speak to others and express their own independent views.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils take part in a variety of enrichment activities. These are carefully planned to support and build on areas of the curriculum. For example, pupils enjoyed a visit to the local beach to learn more about science and geography.

p.1

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

Pupils benefit from a broad and well-planned curriculum. In most subjects, leaders have thought carefully about the important knowledge they want pupils to learn. Pupils revisit learning regularly and apply what they know. Teachers check pupils’ understanding using careful questioning. When pupils require additional support to recall knowledge, this is provided promptly. Therefore, pupils talk confidently about their work and use previous 19 and 20 April 2023

p.1

2

knowledge to help them. For example, pupils explain how learning to read helps them to spell tricky words. However, in some subjects, leaders have not clearly identified what is important for pupils to know. They do not have a strong enough overview to ensure that pupils receive the subject-specific support that they need.

p.2

2

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are well supported. Staff know their precise needs. The special educational needs coordinator works with a range of external agencies to provide well-planned support for pupils. Therefore, pupils follow the curriculum successfully.

p.2

2

Pupils have positive attitudes to reading and talk with enthusiasm about visiting the local library. They learn to read as soon as they start school. Children in Reception Year learn letters and their corresponding sounds successfully. Teachers make sure that children know how to pronounce each sound accurately. If pupils need support with their speech, this is quickly identified. Pupils read books that match precisely to the sounds they know. As a result, they build a rich vocabulary and gain the knowledge and skills they need to become confident readers. Pupils learn from high-quality texts from a wide range of authors. They enjoy fiction, non-fiction and poetry books. They receive ‘rainbow rewards’ for reading at home.

p.2

2

Leaders have carefully planned and resourced the curriculum to support pupils’ wider personal development. This underpins the school’s work. Pupils know what is right and wrong. They say that teachers help them to understand the feelings of others. They learn about relationships and how to keep themselves safe, both online and offline. Pupils enjoy finding out about religions other than their own and can reflect on what they have learned. They appreciate quiet times of contemplation.

p.2

2

Leaders are considerate of staff well-being. Staff appreciate the support that leaders provide to help them manage their workload. They say that the school has a ‘family feel’. The board of trustees and the governors know the school, its curriculum, staff and pupils well. They are highly committed to all.

p.2

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.2

Safeguarding

Leaders have a clear understanding of local risks to pupils. They work closely with safeguarding partners, such as the local authority and the police. Leaders are confident to advocate for pupils and their families. All staff know what to do if they have concerns about a child. The school’s policies and procedures are comprehensive and up to date. Staff and governors receive regular training. They make regular and thorough checks on safeguarding procedures. 19 and 20 April 2023

p.2

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some subjects, leaders do not have a sufficient overview. They have not precisely identified the knowledge they want pupils to learn or where pupils need further subject-specific support. Leaders need to ensure that pupils develop a detailed understanding of all subjects in the curriculum.

p.3

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection, which is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

p.3

Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in November 2017.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

p.3

Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

p.3

Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 19 and 20 April 2023

p.3

School details

Local authority Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole

p.4

School details

Dates of previous inspection 28 and 29 November 2017, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

p.4

Information about this school

 St Clement’s and St John’s Church of England Infants School is a sponsored academy. It is part of the Coastal Learning Partnership multi-academy trust.  The school’s most recent section 48 inspection for schools of a religious character took place in November 2015.  The school does not use an alternative provider.  There is an academy-run breakfast club and after-school club.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in her evaluation of the school.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher, subject leaders, those responsible for governance, trust leaders, those responsible for safeguarding and other leaders.  The inspector carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics and history. The inspector held discussions with teachers, pupils and subject leaders, including leaders 19 and 20 April 2023

p.4

5

of music and science. She visited a sample of lessons and reviewed pupils’ work. The inspector listened to pupils read to a familiar adult.  The inspector reviewed the school’s safeguarding documentation, including records of safeguarding checks carried out on staff working at the school.  The inspector considered how well the designated safeguarding lead acts on concerns about pupils’ welfare and safety. The inspector talked to staff, pupils and governors about the culture of safeguarding in the school.  The inspector considered responses to the online survey, Ofsted Parent View, as well as free-text responses. She also reviewed the responses to the pupil and staff surveys.

p.5

Inspection team

Liz Geller, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 19 and 20 April 2023

p.5

6

regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

6

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

6

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

6

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

6

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6