The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. St Nicholas C of E Primary School is a happy, welcoming school that fosters a love of learning. Pupils are diligent and enthusiastic. Parents typically describe the school as ‘an amazing school with great staff that know my child well’. As your self-evaluation states, ‘Children love this school and this school loves its children.’ St Nicholas C of E Primary is a thriving school. Pupil numbers are rising. A number of pupils join the school later than in the Reception Year. You and your team have recently implemented thorough assessment procedures when pupils join so that teachers can quickly ascertain what pupils know, can do and understand. This is helping to identify where pupils need additional support to catch up or further challenge so that they can achieve the highest standards. You lead the school with a relentless ambition on behalf of the pupils. There have been a number of changes in staffing and to governance. Governors have been proactive in taking part in training and are increasingly holding you and your team to account. You have not shied away from difficult decisions and have been unremitting in tackling any underperformance in teaching and leadership. As a result, pupils are effectively supported and challenged to achieve well. In particular, more pupils make good progress to reach the highest standards in reading, writing and mathematics by the time they leave in Year 6 compared with the national average. Most pupils leave the school well prepared for the next stage in their education. However, you recognise that some pupils with lower starting points are not catching up quickly enough, particularly in mathematics. You have worked with determination to review the many strengths of the school along with the aspects that require further work. You have developed a staff team that shares your drive to engender a love of learning. An able team of middle and senior leaders, nurtured by you, has supported the drive for further improvement. You have been effective in remedying weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. The deployment of staff and effective training has ensured that teaching assistants now work effectively to support pupils. You have also secured improvements to the outdoor environment for children in Reception. It is now safe and attractive, and the activities set up allow children to play purposefully as they delight in practising the skills they have learned in class. Safeguarding is effective. A strong culture of safeguarding is evident in the school. You and your leadership team have ensured that all safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose and of a high quality. All involved in the school community are committed to keeping pupils safe. For example, governors have taken effective action to improve the security of the school site. You make sure that all necessary checks are made to confirm that those who wish to work with children are suitable. Training for safeguarding and child protection is up to date, enabling staff and governors to discharge fully their duties. Pupils are confident that any concerns they have are followed up. Pupils enjoy school and attend well. Their overall attendance has improved significantly in the past year to be better than the national average. Your strong emphasis on pupils’ personal development encourages their positive behaviour, with respect and courtesy as the norm. Pupils are insistent that there is no bullying in school. They are confident that teachers sort out any problems quickly. Parents who responded to Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View, were unanimous in saying that they feel their children are safe and well cared for. Inspection findings My first line of enquiry focused on how leaders support pupils who struggle to read accurately. The teaching of phonics is a strength of the school. In 2017, every child in Year 1 met the expected standard in the phonics screening check. Children are provided with a highly effective start to developing their phonics knowledge in the early years. However, outcomes at key stages 1 and 2 in 2017 show that previously low-attaining pupils did not make the progress they needed to catch up in reading. You are working effectively to remedy this weakness. You have reviewed the reading resources being used in the school to ensure that all genres provide interesting reading material for all readers. In addition, you have ensured that all reading material is aligned to the phonics scheme as well as the national curriculum.