Manor Court Community Primary School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Manor Court Community Primary School Duck Lane, Chard, Somerset TA20 2ES

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Inspection dates: 15 and 16 October 2024

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Outcome

Evidence gathered during this ungraded (section 8) inspection suggests that the school’s work may have improved significantly across all areas since the previous inspection. The school’s next inspection will be a graded inspection.

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Outcome

The headteacher of this school is Luke Talmage. This school is part of the Preston Primary Academy Trust, which means other people in the trust also have responsibility for running the school. The trust is run by the chief executive officer, Bernie Green, and overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Mike Kerrigan.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy attending school and are enthusiastic about the activities on offer. They behave well throughout the day and are kind, polite and considerate. Pupils talk with glee about the range of extra activities they get to do, from sliding in mud to making a pasta dinner.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils progress extremely well through the curriculum at Manor Court. The school makes sure every pupil learns what they need to know to be ready for the next stage in their schooling. Pupils are very well looked after, particularly disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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What is it like to attend this school?

Many pupils that attend the school speak English as an additional language. These pupils are well supported and the school values their presence. The school is proud of the array of languages in its community. Staff’s hard work pays off in ensuring that all pupils experience success and develop independence. This makes Manor Court a truly inclusive community.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Parents think highly of the school. Many cannot praise it enough, saying it is amazing, superb or fantastic. Many parents rightly describe the success their children have 15 and 16 October 2024

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experienced since joining the school. All pupils benefit from an expertly taught curriculum and get the extra support they need to successfully secure important knowledge.

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

Manor Court provides exceptional education and care. The school does everything it can to support pupils to learn and develop. The school has tailored what it does to meet the individual needs of the pupils at the school with precision and care. Staff know the pupils inside out. Staff have a calm and consistent approach, but can be flexible and adaptable to meet each pupil’s needs.

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

The support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND is exemplary. The school strengthens pupils’ learning whenever it can. Key points where pupils might struggle are identified. The school then introduces extra support before pupils get there. This can be seen in the extra help some pupils get as they move from the Reception Class into Year 1. Pupils benefit greatly from this proactive and caring approach.

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

Pupils really enjoy their time here. They take their learning seriously and are enthusiastic about the wide range of clubs, trips and extra opportunities on offer. Pupils love ‘Manor Court 48’, which provides an exciting range of additional opportunities for pupils. For example, many pupils were eager to recount their recent visit to London and experiencing a bird’s eye view of London.

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

Pupil behaviour in and around the school is commendable. Pupils are polite and thoughtful. Pupils’ behaviour in lessons is excellent, they listen carefully to others and engage fully in their learning.

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

The teaching of early English is very strong. Staff are experts in helping children learn to read and write. They have high expectations of behaviour in class and pupils engage exceptionally well right from the Reception Class. The teaching of reading and writing is strengthened by the whole-school approach to speaking and listening. In the Nursery, children get plentiful opportunities to chat to adults. Staff skilfully support children’s early language development through their high-quality interactions and warm relationships. Pupils quickly become confident and enthusiastic readers who really enjoy books.

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

The school has carefully thought out what pupils need to learn and when they need to learn it. Teachers deliver this expertly, so that pupils easily link new ideas to what they already know. This work is further strengthened by a focus on speaking and listening that starts in the early years and develops all the way through the school. This not only supports pupils’ ability to understand and communicate, it also deepens their understanding of the subjects they learn in the wider curriculum. The school has high expectations of what pupils will achieve and the curriculum is delivered to a very high quality. Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their next step when they reach the end of Year 6.

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

Leadership and management are exceptional. Leaders, well supported by the trust, work tirelessly to ensure that no pupil is left behind. This determination can be seen in the 15 and 16 October 2024

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successful oversight of attendance. Careful monitoring, swift action and a wide range of positive strategies have led to significantly improved levels of attendance.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted’s website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. 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’s work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection 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.

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Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in December 2019.

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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.

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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’ 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 15 and 16 October 2024

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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). 15 and 16 October 2024

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School details

Website www.manorcourtcommunityprimary.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 3 and 4 December 2019, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This school is part of the Preston Primary Academy Trust.  The school runs an on-site nursery that includes provision for two-year-olds.  The school uses one registered alternative provision.  The school has a breakfast and after-school club run by the governing body.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation 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 their evaluation of the school.  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 15 and 16 October 2024

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the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work.

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Inspection team

Phil Minns, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector 15 and 16 October 2024

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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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