Cedar Road Primary School

Inspection of Cedar Road Primary School Cedar Road East, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN3 2JF

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Previous inspection grade Good 4 and 5 May 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are polite. They feel happy, safe and enjoy learning. Staff have high expectations of them all. Pupils rise to the challenge of becoming a Cedar Road Champion in celebration of good attendance, behaviour, effort and kindness. One pupil summed up the views of many by saying, ‘I have teachers who care about me.’

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils value opportunities to assume roles of responsibility such as playleaders and librarians. School councillors consult with school leaders about ways to help the community with food banks and serving at a local lunch club for the elderly. They promote ideas for raising funds for charities.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The whole school community understands the clear behaviour routines and expectations. Staff manage pupils’ behaviour well with consistent strategies. Those pupils who need help to manage their emotions have ready access to adults.

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What is it like to attend this school?

There is a calm and orderly atmosphere in lessons and at playtime. However, in a small number of lessons, low-level disruption is not dealt with quickly enough, and this distracts pupils from their learning.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils know that if they have a worry, there is someone who will support them. They say that bullying is rare, and they trust adults to deal with any issues if they arise.

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better?

Leaders have done much to strengthen the curriculum structure. However, some subject leaders are new to the role. They have not yet had the guidance needed to effectively lead and monitor their subject. They do not have a clear overview of what pupils should learn and when.

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better?

In a small number of subjects, the knowledge and skills that pupils need to learn and remember to achieve well have not been broken down explicitly. As a result of this, some teaching does not focus as effectively on building up pupils’ knowledge in a progressive way.

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better?

Leaders have prioritised early reading and phonics and a love of reading. Pupils across Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 are grouped by their phonics attainment to ensure that the lessons meet their needs. Pupils read books that are well matched to their phonic knowledge. Teachers check pupils’ knowledge regularly. Those pupils who need additional help benefit from effective support. As a result, pupils are becoming confident and fluent readers.

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better?

The mathematics curriculum is well established. Carefully sequenced mathematical topics help pupils to become confident mathematicians. Leaders and teachers use assessment well to identify any gaps in pupils’ knowledge. Teachers regularly check that pupils understand what they have been taught. Because of this, pupils can confidently recall what they have learned. 4 and 5 May 2023

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Learning in the early years lays a strong foundation for what children learn for the rest of their education. The classroom environment, both indoors and outdoors, is well organised, bright and engaging. The mathematical activities that children complete provide opportunities for them to confidently explore number and review their learning.

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Leaders are ambitious for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They are fully included in all aspects of school life. Appropriate training for staff means that pupils are accurately and quickly identified if they need additional help with their learning. Leaders ensure that the right support is put in place. They work effectively with external agencies where needed. Teachers support pupils well in classrooms. They provide adapted resources. They deploy adults to work with pupils in small groups or on an individual basis.

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Some pupils are absent too often. This means that they miss out on important learning which hinders their achievement. Leaders have introduced robust systems to monitor and improve attendance. They should continue their work to ensure attendance levels are high.

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The vast majority of pupils behave well. They understand the importance of following the school rules. Staff deal with any poor behaviour promptly. Bullying is not tolerated.

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Pupils get many opportunities and experiences to learn about the wider world. The recently debated issue ‘Should more be done to look after our oceans?’ produced diverse opinions, but pupils respected each other’s viewpoints. They embrace difference between people and understand that people have different beliefs, values and opinions from their own. Pupils are taught how to keep mentally and physically healthy. They enjoy participating in the many clubs such as science, performing arts and coding.

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Governors and trustees bring skills and expertise from a wide range of backgrounds. They understand their statutory responsibilities. They support and challenge leaders effectively. Staff, including those new to teaching, feel valued. They say that leaders are mindful of their workload.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive regular and appropriate training so that they can recognise the signs that a pupil may be at risk of harm. They report concerns promptly, and leaders respond diligently. Leaders work with external agencies to support pupils and their families. They are tenacious in obtaining the help they believe is needed.

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Safeguarding

Pupils learn how to stay safe. This includes online safety and road and rail safety. 4 and 5 May 2023

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Safer recruitment processes are in place. This ensures that appropriate checks are made on staff and visitors to the school.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Levels of absence and persistent absence remain too high for a minority of pupils. Some pupils miss too much learning and do not achieve as well as they should. Leaders should fully implement and embed their policies and procedures in order to improve attendance.  In a small number of subjects, leaders have not identified the precise knowledge that pupils need to commit to their long-term memory. As a result, pupils’ recall of the curriculum is inconsistent.  Some subject leadership is at a relatively early stage. Subject leaders are not yet fully taking responsibility for the implementation and impact of their curriculum. Leaders should ensure that subject leaders gain the necessary knowledge and understanding to measure the implementation and impact of the curriculum effectively, therefore ensuring that all pupils achieve well.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to 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.

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How can I feed back my views?

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

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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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. 4 and 5 May 2023

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School details

Date of previous inspection 14 November 2017, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This is a larger-than-average-size school  Leaders do not make use of alternative provision.  The school joined the David Ross Education Trust in June 2012.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Prior to the inspection, the lead inspector reviewed documents on the school’s website, as well as published information about the school’s performance and previous Ofsted inspections.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics, science, history and music. As part of the deep dives, inspectors visited lessons, reviewed 4 and 5 May 2023

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curriculum plans and spoke with curriculum leaders and teachers. They also talked to pupils about their learning and looked at the work they have completed.  Inspectors met with the SEND coordinators, spoke to pupils with SEND, reviewed plans to support these pupils and visited lessons to see how pupils are supported to learn.  Inspectors met with the designated safeguarding leads and reviewed a range of documentation, including safeguarding records and policies, to ensure that appropriate actions are being taken to keep children safe.  Inspectors considered the views of pupils, parents and staff through Ofsted surveys, as well as additional communication from parents during the inspection.  Inspectors scrutinised the school’s records of bullying, reviewed the actions leaders take when bullying occurs and spoke to several groups of pupils, including some single-gender groups, to understand their experience of school.

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 Inspectors met leaders to discuss pupils’ behaviour and reviewed the school’s data on suspensions.  Inspectors met with representatives from the multi-academy trust and the academy scrutiny committee.  Inspectors scrutinised records relating to attendance and pupil movement.

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Inspection team

Liz Moore, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Vic Wilkinson His Majesty’s Inspector 4 and 5 May 2023

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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.

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