St Joseph's RC Junior Infant and Nursery School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: St Joseph’s RC Junior Infant and Nursery School Oldham Road, Shaw, Oldham, Lancashire OL2 8SZ

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Outcome

St Joseph’s RC Junior Infant and Nursery School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love coming to school. This is reflected in their high rates of attendance. Everybody is made to feel part of the St Joseph’s family. Parents and carers enjoy being able to take part in activities with their children, such as the ‘book and a brew’ club and the recent pancake-tossing event.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school expects all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well. These high expectations are realised, particularly in reading. Children in the early years are taught what excellent behaviour looks like. This sets a solid foundation that is exemplified throughout the school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy taking part in a range of carefully selected extra-curricular activities. They embody the school’s value of ‘trust and have faith in each other’. Pupils enjoy the responsibility that comes with being part of the Saint Joseph’s Workers Group. They carry out their roles with pride and maturity.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils feel well cared for and safe. They know that if they have any worries, their teachers will help them. Pupils have an active voice in the school. They see democracy in action by voting for changes that make school life even better. Pupils recently voted for, and received, new playground equipment to use during their breaktimes.

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

The school provides a broad and engaging curriculum. It is ambitious for all pupils. Learning is ordered so the key knowledge is built on effectively. Staff have strong subject 4 and 5 March 2025

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knowledge. They provide pupils with interesting learning activities. Teachers regularly check what pupils know. Any misconceptions are quickly addressed. Children in the Reception class gain the knowledge that they need to succeed. For example, they confidently discussed how a total value can be made by adding different numbers together. Children are well prepared for Year 1.

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Published outcomes show that pupils achieve well by the end of Year 6. However, the school has recognised that, in some aspects of the curriculum, pupils across the school do not have enough opportunities to deepen their understanding. This sometimes stops them from achieving more highly by the time they leave the school.

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Pupils’ love of reading is evident throughout the school. Reading activities in the Nursery class prepare children well for their phonics learning. Staff are well trained and deliver the phonics curriculum very effectively. They frequently check pupils’ understanding and provide further support when required. This helps pupils quickly develop into fluent readers. Older pupils have access to a wealth of books and speak enthusiastically about how much they enjoy hearing their teachers read to them.

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The school quickly identifies the needs of pupils with SEND. Staff in the classroom adapt the delivery of the curriculum well to meet pupils’ individual needs. The school works smartly with external agencies to provide specialist support if required. These actions help pupils with SEND achieve well.

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Pupils are courteous and respectful. They behave well across the school. Pupils have excellent rates of attendance. Staff provide swift and effective support for any families who may need it. This ensures that there are no barriers to attending school.

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Pupils are very well prepared for life beyond the school gates. The curriculum helps them know how to stay safe and healthy, including online. Pupils are taught to understand how to best manage their mental health. They speak confidently about fundamental British values and how these relate to their everyday lives. Pupils recognise the importance of tolerance. They know that people should be treated equally and with respect, regardless of their background. Pupils take pride in their work in the community. They tidy up the local area, perform songs at the old people’s home and raise money for several different charities.

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The school and governors have a shared vision for the school. They work well together to ensure that school improvement initiatives are making a positive difference. Staff feel valued and enjoy working at the school. They are grateful for the workload and well-being support they receive.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective. 4 and 5 March 2025

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some areas of learning, including in writing and mathematics, pupils do not have sufficient opportunities to deepen their understanding. This prevents some pupils from achieving more highly by the time they leave the school. The school should continue to develop their strategies to ensure that pupils gain greater depth in their learning.

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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 February 2020.

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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 4 and 5 March 2025

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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). 4 and 5 March 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 11 and 12 February 2020, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This is Catholic primary school in the Diocese of Salford. The school received a section 48 inspection in February 2024. The next section 48 inspection will take place in the 2029/30 academic year.  Governors manage the before- and after-school provision.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  The inspector discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector visited a sample of lessons, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector also listened to some pupils reading to a familiar adult. 4 and 5 March 2025

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 The inspector spoke with a representative of the local authority and the diocese.  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 responses to Ofsted’s online surveys for staff and for pupils and the responses to Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments. The inspector also spoke to parents and pupils about their experiences of school.  The inspector reviewed and scrutinised a range of the school’s documentation, including leaders’ plans for improving the school, minutes of governing body meetings and records of attendance and behaviour incidents.

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Inspection team

John Tomlinson, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector 4 and 5 March 2025

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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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