Tolleshunt D'Arcy St Nicholas Primary Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 March 2024

Pupils are happy and attend school regularly. They enjoy learning in the calm and purposeful atmosphere. Staff know and care for pupils. They are considerate of their needs, which helps pupils feel safe at school. Pupils trust staff to help when needed. There have been many changes at the school recently. Expectations for all pupils have been raised. There is a high priority on pupils' academic achievement through the ambitious curriculum. Pupils are keen to study and learn in all subjects. They talk excitedly about their learning code, 'ready, respectful, safe'. They follow this at all times. Pupils are attentive in lessons and listen carefully to their teachers. There are respectful relationships between everyone. Playtimes are happy and fun for all. Pupils understand how to keep themselves safe when online or out in their community. Pupils enjoy attending many different after-school clubs, such as science, netball and baking. They are encouraged to share their achievements and interests from home in weekly celebration assemblies. Pupils take on leadership roles as house captains, who contribute to school life. Many parents praise the school. They support the higher expectations. They talk positively about how their children love being at school and learning.

What the school should improve

• On occasion, staff teach pupils to read using inefficient strategies. Pupils do not always know the best strategy to use when they try to read an unknown word. As a result, pupils do not develop their reading fluency as quickly as they could. Leaders must decide the strategies pupils use at the school so they can learn and use them independently. Leaders must also ensure all staff have training so they can support pupils using the agreed strategies effectively.
• In some subjects, the planned curriculum is not yet being delivered to a consistently high standard. This means that pupils' learning in these subjects is less well developed. Leaders should continue their work to ensure teachers develop the expertise to teach all subjects to an equally high standard, so that pupils develop and deepen their knowledge across all aspects of the curriculum.

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