Pupils enjoy coming to this good and improving school. They talk with pride about how their school is ‘better since it changed its name’. They told inspectors that bullying is not a problem here and that most pupils behave well most of the time. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported well by staff and by their peers alike. Inspectors witnessed many acts of kindness during the inspection. Older pupils clearly understand the school’s values. They also smile a lot, and were not afraid to share a joke with inspectors when the opportunity arose. Parents and carers are increasingly positive about the school. Pupils who have recently joined from other schools say that they feel welcomed. Children in Reception have already settled into the school’s routines. Despite it only being their fourth full day in school, children sat patiently and were inquisitive as ‘Freddy frog’ introduced them to special letters and sounds hidden in a basket. Staff are caring and nurturing. Their expectations are high. Consequently, pupils have growing confidence in themselves. One told the lead inspector that the school is now ‘a good place to learn,’ and that, ‘no matter who you are, everyone is good at something.’ What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? It is evident that a great deal of progress has been made since the school joined the multi-academy trust. Leaders are dedicated to improving all aspects of the school. The headteacher enjoys a high degree of autonomy, while being able to draw on expertise and support provided through the trust when needed. Governors are supportive and understand their roles. Communication between each tier of leadership is effective, leading to a clarity of purpose and good leadership at all levels. The school’s curriculum has evolved over the last four years. Leaders continue to develop it in line with their priority of ensuring that planned learning closely meets the needs of all pupils. Leaders are keenly aware of changes to the early years foundation stage framework and how its implementation will help to ensure that children in Reception continue to get a good start to school. Classroom visits showed that pupils enjoy learning. Leaders understand that reading sits at the heart of pupils’ ability to access the wider curriculum. Children are introduced to the school’s phonics scheme quickly. Expectations of their progress in early reading are set and monitored closely. Most pupils read with fluency by the time they reach the end of Year 2. Those who struggle, including those with SEND, are supported well. Older children talk enthusiastically about reading, are able to describe why they like, or are not so keen on the books of different authors. Children enjoy their mathematics lessons. Leaders have ensured that the curriculum builds pupils’ mathematical knowledge and skills successfully over time. Additionally, Inspection report: Royal Rise Primary School 14 and 15 September 2021 2 staff have made sensible adaptions to the mathematics curriculum in the light of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Leaders have also taken the needs of pupils with SEND into account when designing the mathematics curriculum, ensuring that pupils’ individual needs are addressed across the school. The school’s personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum is a strength. It supports pupils’ personal development well, particularly those who are vulnerable and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Physical and mental health, as well as the importance of good friends and respectful relationships, are all aspects covered in an age-appropriate way as pupils move through the school. Leaders have carefully considered pupils’ prior experiences and sought to address common barriers to learning in designing the geography curriculum. It takes into account the school’s locality and begins, like most of the school’s curriculum, in Reception. Despite its strengths, leaders are aware that the geography scheme of work would benefit from a clearer focus on the detailed knowledge pupils need to know as they move through the school. While the quality of education the school provides is good, leaders know that COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the trajectory of improvement. Rightly, their recent priorities have been on supporting the well-being of pupils and staff, while maintaining the quality of education as best they can. Largely, this has been successful. However, the professional development of staff, including for those new to teaching and those new to the school, has suffered. Some staff need to develop their subject knowledge. Not all staff who teach phonics are expert enough to teach the school’s scheme with complete fidelity. Early career teachers in particular talk with passion and pride about their work, but would benefit from further development focusing on the way they teach the curriculum for each subject.