Church Lane Primary School & Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Church Lane Primary School and Nursery provides pupils with the best possible start on their educational journey. Pupils describe their school as 'phenomenal' and 'the best school in the world'. Parents and carers rightly praise the education and care their children receive.

A typical comment was: 'Church Lane is an exceptional school with dedicated staff who genuinely care about all children's education and well-being.'

The school is passionate that each and every pupil will experience success. Pupils thrive here, academically and personally.

They live out the school's motto of 'being kind, working hard and achieving greatness'. In lessons, pupils are atten...tive and enthusiastic learners.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary.

The 'Church Lane Way' teaches pupils about the behaviours and habits that the school expects them to demonstrate. Pupils treat one another, and adults, with courtesy and respect. Pupils trust staff, who show pupils high levels of care.

Pupils are happy, safe and secure.

Pupils value the school's array of opportunities to take on responsibilities, such as being members of the school parliament, 'play rangers' and 'well-being warriors'. Pupils take these responsibilities seriously.

They are proud of the differences that they make in these roles.

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

The school has designed a curriculum that is exceptionally ambitious for all pupils. It identifies precisely what pupils will learn and when this will be taught.

As a result, pupils make excellent progress through the curriculum.

In lessons, teachers have strong subject knowledge and carefully check that pupils' understanding is secure before moving on to new learning. Staff model learning precisely so that pupils know exactly what they must do and how to do it.

This results in pupils achieving an excellent understanding of their learning and producing high-quality work consistently.

Pupils' attitudes to learning are impressive. They demonstrate high levels of engagement, which is reflected in their ability to remember, in depth, what they have learned.

They are eager to share this knowledge with others. For example, pupils in Year 5 could talk about their past learning about gravity. They recalled learning about Galileo and could define terms such as geo-centric and heliocentric and discuss with confidence how scientific views have changed over time.

The school organises many educational experiences for its pupils that enrich their learning. These include museum visits, drama workshops and a trip to France, where pupils practise using phrases learned at school while visiting French shops.

The school's provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is strong.

Pupils with SEND are identified quickly. Plans to support their learning are clear and effective. Teachers make careful adaptations so that these pupils can access the curriculum.

Pupils with SEND are fully included in all aspects of school life. They make strong progress.

The school prioritises reading as central to the curriculum.

Staff are well trained and carry out close checks on pupils' learning. Interventions support pupils who are at risk of falling behind. Reading books are matched to the sounds that pupils know.

This begins immediately in the early years class and continues for as long as needed. Pupils develop into fluent, confident readers with positive reading habits.

Children make an exceptionally strong start in the Nursery Year and Reception class.

They learn in an environment that inspires curiosity. There are stimulating, carefully designed activities that enable children to learn, understand and practise new skills and vocabulary. Children in the early years are extremely well prepared for their next steps.

The personal development offer for pupils is exemplary and goes beyond what is expected. Themes such as personal, social, health and relationships education, citizenship and life skills are woven through the curriculum. Pupils have a mature understanding of equality, diversity and fundamental British values.

The school makes sure that its pupils are familiar with the world beyond Sleaford. Leaders are passionate that every pupil will experience success and be able to take part in a wide range of enrichment opportunities. Many pupils access extra-curricular sports and activities such as swimming, gymnastics and the extremely popular dance classes.

They do this through the Church Lane Sports Scholarship and the school's Arts Academy.

The school is exceptionally well led. Leaders, governors and staff work together very effectively.

The school puts pupils at the centre of everything that it does. Staff feel very well supported and are extremely proud and happy to work at a school where they are part of a close-knit team, dedicated to supporting the development of every pupil.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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