A school described as being like “one big family” has been praised in its latest Ofsted report.
Elm Grove Primary School in Worthing was rated good following an inspection in January.
Inspectors lauded the “ambitious and well thought out” curriculum, pupils’ behaviour and the progression of students in most subjects.
They said children have positive relationships with staff and each other, bullying is uncommon and pupils feel “safe and well cared for”.
The report said: “This is a nurturing school where every child is known and nurtured. Many staff, parents and pupils say that the school is ‘like one big family’. As one parent reported to inspectors, ‘It’s a happy place where staff really care about each individual.’ Inspectors found this to be the case.
“Pupils are enthusiastic about learning and given the help they need to succeed. Those who need it receive useful extra support. The school provides a range of different opportunities to broaden pupils’ experiences and develop their talents and interests. This includes in the early years, where the youngest children flourish in a carefully considered setting. As a result, pupils achieve highly.
“Pupils are polite and considerate. Pupils meet the high expectations set by adults.”
Read more: Ofsted praise 'welcoming and inclusive' primary school in latest inspection
However, the school, in Elm Grove, was told to improve its teaching and assessment in some subjects where students were experiencing “gaps in knowledge”.
“In a minority of other subjects, the curriculum is in an earlier stage of development,” the report said.
“As a result, teaching can lack precision and pupils do not learn as well as they could.
“The school is alert to this. In these subjects, investment in resources and training is helping teachers develop the subject knowledge they need to teach with confidence.
“Work to develop how adults check pupils’ understanding in some subjects is ongoing. Consequently, gaps in pupils’ knowledge are not always identified quickly enough.
“Some teachers do not have the subject expertise to teach the newer parts of the curriculum precisely and with confidence.
“Consequently, pupils do not always learn as well as they could in these subjects. The school should ensure that staff receive the training they need to deliver all parts of the curriculum consistently well.”
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