Mears Ashby is a welcoming school where pupils feel safe and happy. Pupils care for and respect each other. They are polite and friendly to staff and visitors. Leaders know the community well. They encourage pupils to make a difference to the local community. For example, the Reception pupils go on ‘welly walks’ around the village and older pupils have campaigned for a safe pathway to a local nature area. Leaders ensure that all pupils are part of school life. They listen and respond to ideas that pupils suggest. For example, older pupils organised ‘digital leaders’ because they wanted to help younger pupils to improve their knowledge of technology. Pupils behave well because teachers help them to understand how their words and actions have an impact on others. Teachers help pupils to resolve disagreements quickly. Pupils are confident to talk to an adult if they have worries. Parents acknowledge how the leaders have established high expectations. One comment which was typical was, ‘Learning is inspirational and varied while being delivered with warmth.’ What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? Pupils enjoy reading and listening to stories. Teachers use literature to help pupils learn new words. Younger pupils enjoy joining in with familiar stories. Pupils who need additional support to read receive extra help in school. Leaders encourage pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to develop their understanding of texts. Leaders have ensured that all staff use the new programme to help pupils at the early stages of learning to read. All teachers have received training in how to use this programme. However, some reading books do not match the sounds that pupils know. Pupils in the early years are not able to use the knowledge of how to sound out words. This is because pupils are not given books early in the reading programme. This slows the rate of how quickly and fluently some pupils learn to read. The mathematics curriculum is strong. The curriculum plans set out the key knowledge and skills that pupils should learn, from the early years to Year 6. Teachers ensure that key knowledge is broken into small steps. This means that pupils know more and remember more as they progress through the school. Pupils in the early years are provided with rich opportunities to develop their counting and number skills. The trust has provided school leaders with curriculum plans. In some subjects, these plans help teachers to understand the steps needed to ensure that pupils know and Inspection report: Mears Ashby Church of England Primary School 28 and 29 September 2021 2 remember more. Developing the curriculum plans has been delayed due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Some curriculum plans have been adapted to meet the needs of pupils in school. However, leaders need to ensure that all curriculum plans are clear and concise, so that pupils’ memories are not overloaded. For example, in science and history, leaders have not allowed sufficient time in their current plans for practising key skills and going over important knowledge. They do not enable teachers to understand what pupils must know and remember. Leaders ensure that pupils with SEND are included in all aspects of school life. Leaders adapt provision to meet the needs of pupils who need extra support to stay in school. They provide additional support for pupils’ mental health. However, some SEND pupils commented on how they are sometimes overloaded with too much information. Pupils in the early years learn to play with their friends and share equipment. They listen carefully and respond well to routines. Adults help pupils to develop their language by encouraging them to ask questions, explain and reflect. For example, pupils are asked to explain the rules of a skittles game to their friends. Despite being a small school, leaders strive to provide pupils with a wide variety of lunchtime and after-school provision. Leaders ensure that all pupils take part in extra-curricular activities. They help to nurture pupils’ interests and talents. Leaders invite a range of visitors to school to develop pupils’ understanding of being a responsible citizen. Leaders also use current affairs to help pupils understand the consequences of behaviour and concepts such as equality and fairness.