Acomb First School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 25 April 2023

Acomb First School is the pride of the local community. Staff, pupils and families speak highly of all aspects of the school. They recognise the recent improvements that are supporting pupils to thrive and flourish. Pupils experience a broad academic curriculum. All staff, including teaching assistants, have secure subject knowledge which enables them to teach the curriculum well. Pupils benefit from a wider curriculum which helps them to develop their personal and leadership skills. The school council is instrumental in shaping school developments. The council members eagerly share the work they have done to improve the playground, to run a healthy tuck shop and to support local and national charities. Pupils behave well because staff have high expectations of them. Pupils and their families have no concerns about bullying. They have absolute confidence that staff would keep them safe by effectively managing any issues that may arise. Parents and carers are effusive about the work of the headteacher, other leaders and staff. Families value the nurture and support provided to pupils, but particularly to those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). One parent's comment summed up the views of many: 'This is a lovely school, and despite its diminutive size, it packs a punch in what it provides for my child's development.'

What the school should improve

• Some aspects of the curriculum in the early years have not been precisely defined. There are temporary staffing arrangements in place in early years. This limits the work that leaders can do to fully develop and implement the curriculum. Leaders should continue with their planned work to ensure permanent staffing arrangements and to complete the curriculum planning so that children can be well prepared for Year 1 in all areas of learning.
• Many of the curriculums which have been recently introduced and developed are in the early stages of being implemented. In some areas, subject leaders have yet to fully develop assessment processes to check that pupils are learning and remembering the new curriculum content over time. Leaders should continue with the work set out in their improvement plans to refine assessment so that they have a clear picture of the impact of the new curriculums.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)