Mawsley Primary School is a happy and welcoming school where everyone respects each other. Pupils enjoy learning and playing together. Leaders want all pupils to ‘be brave, be kind and be yourself’. Pupils certainly are. Pupils are polite and well behaved. They feel safe in school. Pupils are confident that should bullying occur, it would be sorted out straight away by staff. Pupils say that bullying is very rare. They understand the importance of treating everyone with kindness, understanding and respect. Leaders are ambitious for all pupils to succeed in their learning and in life. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils live up to these expectations. They achieve well in the calm environment that leaders have created. Pupils relish the opportunities to take on roles and responsibilities in school. As members of the pupil parliament, pupils play an important role in the life of the school. Older pupils take their ‘cabin leaders’ roles seriously when leading afterschool activities for younger pupils. Digital leaders help to make sure pupils stay safe online. Parents and carers speak highly of the school. They typically commented: ‘Mawsley is a lovely school with caring teachers and staff.’ What does the school do well and what does it need to do better? Leaders, governors and staff are united in their desire to provide the best possible education for all pupils, including pupils with SEND. Leaders have thought carefully about what they want pupils to learn. They have organised learning so that pupils, including children in the early years, build on what they already know. They have designed a curriculum that is ambitious and enjoyable and meets the needs of the Mawsley pupils. Leaders have ensured that staff have the knowledge that they need to deliver the curriculum well. Teachers use assessment information to identify what pupils know and what they need to learn next. This is less well developed in the early years. Staff do not always extend children’s learning when they are accessing independent learning activities. This means that some children in the early years are not learning as well as they could. From the early years, reading is a priority. There has been significant investment in reading materials and books. This is increasing pupils’ enjoyment of reading. Leaders have made sure that the books in school reflect diversity and difference. This helps to develop pupils’ understanding of life in modern Britain. Effective staff training means that staff have the expertise in teaching phonics. Staff use Inspection report: Mawsley Primary School 21 and 22 June 2022 2 assessment information well to pinpoint the support needed for pupils who are struggling to read. Pupils who need extra support to read well receive it. Pupils are confident and fluent readers. Children in the early years soon learn how to concentrate and listen well. They are happy and curious learners. Children learn together and show respect for one another. For example, children take turns and look after each other. Staff have created an environment that develops children’s independence and resilience. Children know it is fine to make a mistake. In fact, children celebrate mistakes, saying: ‘It is fine, we can just try again.’ Older pupils build effectively on these skills. All pupils understand the school rules: ‘be ready, be respectful, be safe’. Pupils are polite and well-mannered when talking to adults and to each other. Pupils’ positive behaviour helps them to learn, free from disruption. Leaders provide many opportunities for personal development. Year 6 pupils develop their resilience and confidence during their residential trip, for example. The ambitious graduate programme allows pupils to learn the value of independent study. Pupils can attend after-school clubs for sports. Leaders intend to resume more extra-curricular activities to develop pupils’ wider interests, such as cooking and art. A catch-up swimming programme has been put in place this year. Careful thought is going into the planning of activities that pupils may have missed in the last two years. Pupils respect the differences and similarities of the various cultures, faiths and beliefs found in modern Britain. While leaders are ambitious for the curriculum to be reflective of life in today’s world, it is not fully embedded. This means that some pupils have not developed a wide cultural understanding of different religions and beliefs. Governors use their knowledge of the school well to hold leaders to account. They are not afraid to ask probing questions, especially around the quality of education. They are proud of the school’s achievements. Governors are mindful of staff workload and well-being, including that of the headteacher. Staff are proud to work at the school. They feel well supported by leaders.