Coquet Park First School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Coquet Park First is an exceptional school.

Leaders, staff, governors and the local authority unite in their pursuit of excellence in all areas of the school's work. Consequently, pupils achieve the best possible outcomes in their learning and wider development. Pupils' behaviour and attitudes are exemplary.

The school's values of 'achieve, believe and enjoy' are realised fully. Pupils are proud to be members of their happy school community. They claim confidently, 'We can be who we want to be and we shouldn't listen to people who say that we can't.'

The impressive array of visitors to the school supports these high aspirations. Authors, an Olympian, an astr...ophysicist, artists and engineers bring the world beyond school into the classroom. The additional events and activities that the school plans to support the delivery of the curriculum are remarkable.

There is never a dull day at Coquet Park.

Pupils delight in their successes. For example, pupils are proud of their eco-work and the difference that they are making to the world.

They also continue the traditions of the school with honour. For example, the annual traditional maypole dances are a highlight of the school year.

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

There is no room for complacency at this school.

All adults strive consistently for better for their pupils and build on the exceptional offer that pupils receive. The curriculum has been developed with great care. Staff work together to share their expertise to ensure a seamless learning journey for pupils.

This stretches from the very beginning of the early years provision to pupils' transition to middle school.

Expert teaching ensures that pupils build consistently on their prior learning. Carefully planned opportunities for pupils to recall previous knowledge ensure a solid foundation for new learning.

For example, children learn about the life cycle of frogs in Nursery, investigating the frogspawn in the woodland area pond. They use scientific vocabulary confidently, such as tadpole and froglet. Children in Reception then learn about the life cycle of birds.

Key stage 1 pupils subsequently relate this to their own life story as humans. The highly effective teaching of the well-sequenced curriculum enables pupils to learn a vast body of knowledge and vocabulary as they move through the school.

Pupils achieve high standards across the full curriculum.

They achieve very highly in the Year 4 multiplication test, but pupils' knowledge of number facts extends far beyond this. Careful checks are made to ensure that pupils remember key number facts right from the early years. Where gaps in learning are found, staff ensure that pupils receive the support or extra practice they need to catch up.

Pupils leave Coquet Park as confident, avid readers. Lessons are designed skilfully to ensure that pupils develop their expression and fluency extremely well. This work is underpinned by the school's highly effective teaching of phonics.

Skilled adults make sure that the youngest children learn to read as soon as they can. If any child falls behind, swift and effective support is put in place. As a result, pupils learn to read rapidly and are well prepared for key stage 2.

The identification of needs and support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is highly effective. This ensures that, wherever possible, pupils with SEND experience the same high-quality curriculum offer as their peers. Therefore, achievement for all groups of pupils in the school is high.

During their time in school, pupils' character is shaped expertly through the school's identified 'learning powers'. Pupils demonstrate their resilience, resourcefulness and reflectiveness across the school day. The learning power of 'relationships' is seen in the warm interactions between pupils and staff.

Staff set the calm and respectful tone of the school and pupils live up to this expectation. The oldest pupils are wonderful role models for the youngest children. They enjoy being 'reading buddies' with their Nursery class friends.

The strong approach to social and emotional development in early years sets children up for success as they move through the rest of the school. This, and the many pupil leadership roles, such as playground buddies and sports ambassadors, contributes to the exemplary behaviour of pupils at the school.

The school has developed a wide range of interesting clubs, such as lacrosse, 'clippy mat club' and allotment club, which pupils and parents appreciate greatly.

The school engages effectively with parents, who rightly are very positive about the excellent academic offer provided for their children. The value that pupils and their parents place on the educational experience at Coquet Park is reflected in pupils' very high attendance.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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