OFSTED

Ofsted February 2022 Overall Effectiveness: Good

What is it like to attend this school?

• At The Calder Learning Trust, pupils are respectful towards each other. Pupils say that they feel safe and they know that adults will help them.
• Relationships between staff and pupils are strong.

• The curriculum is ambitious and well sequenced, and allows pupils to know and remember more. Teachers plan together and their opportunities for professional development are helping to deliver lessons that pupils enjoy. In Reception, children are developing their understanding of Spanish words and phrases to develop their love of language.

• Staff deliver a phonics programme with accuracy and consistency. Leaders use assessment to ensure that the books that pupils read are well matched to the sounds that they already know. Daily story time fosters their love of reading. Leaders from the primary and secondary phases have worked closely to develop a whole-school reading curriculum. Daily phonics teaching ensures that children get off to a strong start with their reading. The school is proud of the use of reading mentors. 
  
• The school’s approach to teaching and learning is described as the ‘Calder Classroom’, and is helping pupils to learn in a consistent way. Staff are encouraged to share good practice, supporting pupils to achieve well.
•  Expectations of all pupils are high.
• The early years curriculum is built around books. Staff use this model to engage children in their learning and help them discover the wider world around them. During the inspection, for example, children visited a local supermarket to buy ingredients for the sandwiches they later made for ‘the tiger who was coming to tea’, prompted by the book by Judith Kerr. Pupils in the primary phase enjoy their lessons and parents agree.
• Pupils are given opportunities to express their views freely. Pupils speak confidently about healthy relationships. They know what a good friend is. They use words such
  as ‘loyal’ and ‘caring’, and understand the importance of being a good listener.

<Click Here> to read the full Ofsted report from the inspection in February 2022