The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. You, the senior leaders and staff have ensured that the school is a welcoming learning environment that serves the local community well. You have brought about improvements since the last inspection, ensuring that the school continues to provide pupils with a good standard of education. Pupils leave St Francis’ fully prepared for the next stages of their education. Your evaluation of the school effectiveness is astute. You have ensured that the comprehensive approach you take to school development planning is based on relevant priorities that are turned into actions. You know what needs to be done to improve this school further. You have recognised that children enter the Nursery and Reception classes with skills much lower than those typical. Since the previous inspection, the Nursery provision has been extended to offer places to two-year-old children so that they may be better prepared for school. Children flourish and make good progress in the early years. The proportion of children who achieve a good level of development is improving towards to the national average year on year. Children continue to make good progress through key stage 1. By the time pupils reach the end of Year 6 they have caught up with other pupils nationally. Many pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve the expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 2. The school learning environment is bright and stimulating. Pupils benefit from ample space and have access to high-quality resources. Staff celebrate pupils’ achievements well in the many colourful displays and high-quality examples of their art work. Pupils enjoy attending school. Many stated that behaviour was good. Pupils said that they feel safe while in school. They said that their teachers help them and that you and the staff are kind to them. Pupils were particularly keen to express that their concerns were listened to. They know that if they place their concerns in the ‘worry box’ that an adult will talk to them and act upon their concerns. Pupils enjoy the many trips and visits throughout their time in school. Older pupils spoke confidently about their trip to London, where they visited Parliament and Buckingham Palace. Pupils enjoy their break times, especially now that they have been enhanced with a range of outdoor gym equipment. They understand the need to stay fit and healthy. Pupils appreciate the wide and diverse range of clubs and activities that are offered. For example, yoga, mindfulness, handball and football. Pupils have a good understanding of safeguarding and they are aware of the dangers of sharing personal information. Through their rich curriculum experiences, pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Parents and carers are supportive of the school. Those that I spoke to, and those that responded to the Ofsted surveys, expressed no concerns about the behaviour or safety of the pupils while in your care. Parents were particularly complimentary about the good start that children make in the early years and the free breakfast club provision. Several parents commented specifically on how the staff have supported the individual needs of their children. Governors know the school well. They are aware of the many strengths and areas that need further development. They hold you and the senior leaders to account well. They have successfully overseen the use and evaluation of the pupil premium funding so that disadvantaged pupils do as well as other groups of pupils. They keep a sharp eye on the use of the sport premium to ensure that active, healthy and aspirational lifestyles are promoted. For example, they recently organised an Olympic athlete to open the new key stage 2 outdoor gym equipment. At the previous inspection, school leaders were asked to improve teaching so that progress in mathematics continued to improve. Since then, pupils who were of middle ability at the end of key stage 1 have made strong progress over three consecutive years. A new approach to the teaching of mathematics is paying dividends across the school. Many pupils are regularly challenged. Pupils take pride in the presentation of their work. Work seen in pupils’ books and evidence in school’s assessment information indicates that pupils continue to make good progress in mathematics. Inspectors also asked you to ensure that pupils knew what they needed to do to improve their work. Teachers continue to be very proactive and they question pupils well. Positive learning environments ensure that the behaviour of the pupils is good and little learning time is lost. Pupils that I spoke to were able to talk about their next stages in learning and what they needed to do to improve their work further.