'The school is a warm, caring and friendly place' - Telford primary school graded 'Good' in all areas by Ofsted

Inspectors from the education watchdog visited St Mary's Catholic Primary School in Madeley on November 5 and 6.

They judged the school's quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all to be 'Good'.

The report, published on December 10, said the school "gives pupils and their families a lot of support" - whether this be to take action to keep children safe or extra help with early language and reading.

Inspectors said the primary school sets "clear expectations" for pupils, staff, parents and carers and because of this "pupils feel safe and valued in school".

Pupils were said to "behave well" and have positive attitudes to learning and one another. Adults are also said to promote the school’s values and treat pupils kindly. 

The report added that staff "teach [children] to be truthful, respectful and resilient."

It continued: "The school teaches pupils about how to stay safe, both in school and at home. Staff listen to what pupils say and remind them what to do if anything is worrying them. 

"Pupil 'playleaders' are also quick to help anyone who feels left out or upset. But this rarely happens because there is lots to do on the playground to keep children happy and occupied.

"Since the previous inspection, pupils’ achievement has been up and down. However, recent improvements are supporting pupils to make better progress through the curriculum over time. Reading is now stronger than ever. 

"This makes it easier for pupils to access the rest of the curriculum. Pupils’ current work is typically of a good standard."

The previous inspection during May 2019 rated the school 'Good' overall.

The school currently has 192 children on its roll - aged between four and 11 years old. 

The Ofsted report said teachers at the school "feel valued" at work and report a strong team spirit, saying that leaders care about them.

Inspectors stated: "There is a healthy workplace culture that enables everyone to reflect on and improve what they do."

The report added: "The school is a warm, caring and friendly place in which to work and learn. From the start in early years, the school introduces children to orderly routines. This helps them to settle in, feel safe and to develop helpful learning habits. 

"When they begin school, many children benefit from the school’s extra help with speech and communication. The school provides an effective approach to learning about letter sounds. This, together with a deliberate focus on learning rhymes and songs, helps children to make quick progress with their language and strengthens their memories."

The full report can be found here.