Taverham VC CE Junior School

Inspection of a good school: Taverham VC CE Junior School Taverham Road, Taverham, Norwich, Norfolk NR8 6SX

p.1

Inspection dates: 21 and 22 November 2023

p.1

Outcome

Taverham VC CE Junior School continues to be a good school.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are proud to attend this welcoming school. They follow the school rules of being ‘ready, respectful and safe’. Pupils receive a warm, friendly welcome from the moment they arrive. Pupils develop high levels of independence and skills through a wide range of extra-curricular activities. The school has particular strengths in the areas of music and sport.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils behave well in class and around the school. Pupils are respectful of one another. For example, one pupil commented, ‘The best part of our school is that no one gets left out.’ Relationships with adults, and with their peers, are warm and positive. This means that pupils are confident that adults will listen to any worries they have, and that these will be dealt with effectively.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils respond well to staff’s high expectations. They engage enthusiastically and work hard. Staff make sure that pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress well through the curriculum.

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils say that bullying happens very rarely. When it does, the adults in school always sort it out quickly and fairly. Pupils feel happy and safe at Taverham.

p.1

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

The school has an exciting curriculum that engages pupils. The curriculum covers the key knowledge that pupils need to learn across all subjects. In many subjects, the delivery of this curriculum is effective. It helps pupils to know and remember more. However, in a small number of subjects, teachers are not always clear about how to help pupils remember the key knowledge. This can prevent pupils from progressing as well as they might.

p.1

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

Teachers make effective adaptions for pupils who have gaps in their knowledge or for pupils with SEND. Staff are skilled in supporting pupils with SEND to access the curriculum 21 and 22 November 2023

p.1

2

alongside their peers. They work closely with parents to understand pupils’ needs and how to meet them effectively. This helps pupils with SEND to achieve well.

p.2

2

The school prioritises reading. Staff promote a love of reading at every opportunity. The school has developed a well-used and extensive library. In lessons, pupils have access to carefully chosen, high-quality books. The range of books reflects the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. There are a small number of pupils who require additional phonics support. Staff accurately identify these pupils. They put appropriate plans in place from the start of Year 3. Some staff do not have the expertise needed to teach phonics effectively. In a small number of cases, this can slow the pace of learning for these pupils.

p.2

2

Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They watch closely how well pupils learn the curriculum. This is so they can readily address pupils’ misconceptions. They help pupils to navigate more difficult ideas and concepts. Staff use this information to plan the next steps in learning. For example, in a Year 4 mathematics lesson with a focus on fractions, the teacher introduced new concepts. These were based on previous learning and successfully explained the ways in which fractions can sometimes be misunderstood.

p.2

2

Pupils are attentive in class. They work hard and try their best. They move around the school in a calm and orderly way. Pupils are polite and welcoming. They show respect to one another.

p.2

2

The wider personal development programme is sharply focused on enrichment and broadening pupils’ horizons. For example, pupils learn music theory, how to play a musical instrument and how to perform. The choir and orchestra provide pupils with regular opportunities to show off their abilities. They do so with pride and enthusiasm. In sports, pupils take part in a wide range of fun activities. The school has several competitive teams who represent the school in district competitions.

p.2

2

Parents, staff and pupils are very positive about their school. Staff feel valued. They appreciate the support they get from school leaders as well as recent changes to make workload more manageable. The governing body members hold the school to account well. They are knowledgeable, have a clear vision and regularly visit the school to check on what is happening for themselves.

p.2

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.2

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In a few areas of the curriculum, teachers are not sufficiently clear about how to help pupils remember the key knowledge required. This means that pupils sometimes have gaps in their learning. The school should ensure that staff emphasise the most important knowledge that pupils need to learn so that pupils achieve highly across the curriculum. 21 and 22 November 2023

p.2

3

 Not all staff deliver the school’s phonics programme well enough. This hinders how well some pupils learn to read. Leaders should ensure that all staff deliver the programme effectively so that pupils learn to read fluently and confidently.

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 second ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good in November 2014.

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’ is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school’s pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 21 and 22 November 2023

p.3

School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

p.4

School details

Date of previous inspection 19 June 2018, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

p.4

Information about this school

 The school has a Christian religious character. It was last inspected under section 48 of the Education Act 2005 in October 2023. The next section 48 inspection will be in eight years’ time.  The school uses one registered alternative provider.

p.4

Information about this inspection

 The inspector carried out this ungraded inspection under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.  Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in his evaluation of the school.  During this inspection, the inspector met with members of the local governing body, the headteacher and various staff.  The inspector spoke with representatives from the local authority and the diocese. 21 and 22 November 2023

p.4

5

 The inspector spoke with pupils about their work, behaviour and wider school life.  The inspector carried out deep dives in these subjects: early reading, mathematics and music. For each deep dive, the inspector held discussions about the curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspector considered the views of parents submitted through Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text responses.  The inspector considered the responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for staff and pupils.

p.5

Inspection team

Duncan Ramsey, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 21 and 22 November 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