Caunton Dean Hole CofE Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy at this small, caring and nurturing school.

They show respect and kindness, reflecting the school's values. Pupils enjoy their learning. They fulfil the school's high expectations for them to achieve well in all aspects of school life.

Pupils behave well. They are polite to each other and to adults. Pupils enjoy welcoming visitors and are proud of their school.

Positive relationships enable pupils to flourish and feel safe. They know that trusted adults are available to provide bespoke support in the case of any worries or difficulties.

The school's distinctive close-knit family ethos is evident.

For example, at lunchtime, t...he whole school gathers for 'family dining'. Older and younger pupils interact naturally and happily. Pupils welcome opportunities to develop independence as they help to clear the dining hall or prepare resources for collective worship.

The attractive, spacious outdoor areas promote pupils' wider development, and their physical and mental well-being, very well. Pupils benefit from regular opportunities to broaden their horizons beyond the village. This includes taking part in residential activities, day trips and immersive themed 'collaboration days' at other schools.

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

The school has ensured that the curriculum is well designed in all subjects. Careful thought has been given to the school's context and the particular challenges of having mixed-age classes. The curriculum securely reflects the school's ambition for all pupils to know and remember more as they progress through the school.

The school has responded positively to the increased number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils' individual needs are quickly identified. Teaching is carefully adapted to ensure that pupils with SEND access the curriculum and receive the support that they require.

Pupils with SEND flourish and achieve well at the school.

Reading, and a love of books, are prioritised. There is a well-considered approach to early reading and phonics.

This begins straight away in the early years, through a sharp focus on early reading and language development. The well-trained staff team provides extra teaching for pupils of any age who need to catch up. As a result, pupils become fluent, confident readers.

Staff have secure subject knowledge. They generally give clear instructions that enable pupils to understand new information. Pupils are well supported to apply this knowledge to different situations to solve a range of problems.

Staff check pupils' understanding and quickly step in to address any misconceptions. This is especially strong in English and mathematics. In a few other subjects, the work set is not as well matched to the intended curriculum, or the needs of mixed-age classes.

Some pupils struggle to recall what they have learned. This inconsistency is reflected in the work that pupils produce. In these subjects, pupils' knowledge and skills are less well embedded than in other areas of the curriculum.

The school has considered the needs of children in the early years in the mixed-age class. This has ensured that those very young children, although few in number, benefit from a well-designed early years curriculum that promotes their development across all areas of learning. Children in the early years benefit from bespoke support that prioritises their essential language development and communication skills.

The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour and attendance. There are strong systems for checking and analysing patterns and incidents. As a result, appropriate support is quickly arranged so that pupils behave well and maintain good rates of attendance.

The school promotes pupils' wider personal development well. The personal, social and health education curriculum covers a broad range of themes. This ensures that pupils develop a well-informed awareness of modern British society.

Pupils demonstrate thoughtful understanding of equalities, explaining that 'it's about treating others as you want to be treated'.

Leadership and governance are strong. After an unsettled period in recent years, there is now greater stability in leadership.

This has ensured that the school's provision is secure in all areas. Staff are well trained and receive support for their workload and well-being.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, the work given to pupils does not enable them to build sequentially on what they have learned. As a result, there are gaps in some pupils' knowledge. The school should ensure that staff have the expertise to choose learning activities that support pupils to learn the key knowledge set out in these curriculum areas.

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