East Ayton Community Primary School is located in the heart of the community in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The recent inspection conducted on 21 and 22 February 2024 rated the school as good across all areas, including overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a significant improvement from the previous inspection, which rated the school as requiring improvement.
Parents and carers express overwhelming positivity regarding the opportunities provided by the school, highlighting the well-attended residential visits and various clubs that enrich the curriculum. The school fosters a culture of high expectations for both behaviour and learning, creating an environment where pupils and teachers take pride in their achievements. Classrooms are described as calm and conducive to learning, with respectful and positive relationships between pupils and staff. Pupils feel safe and happy, and they are encouraged to work hard and voice their concerns, which are taken seriously by the staff.
The school promotes responsibility among pupils, with Year 6 students volunteering to assist younger peers during lunchtime and participating in the school council to raise funds for the library. Leaders have successfully instilled a love of reading, making it a central focus of the curriculum. Pupils enjoy storytime, which they find calming and magical, enhancing their engagement with literature.
Leaders have made effective improvements to the curriculum, ensuring it is ambitious and well-planned. Staff have identified essential knowledge and skills for each subject, although some subjects require further development to align fully with the school's ambitious goals. The current published outcomes do not accurately reflect the quality of the curriculum and teaching.
In phonics, leaders ensure that staff are well-equipped to teach effectively, with regular assessments to match reading materials to pupils' knowledge. Support is provided to those who need it, starting as early as Nursery. In mathematics, the curriculum is well-structured, focusing on problem-solving and reasoning, which helps pupils develop their skills. Early years education includes numerous opportunities for counting and number recognition.
The school is attentive to the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, adapting work presentation to ensure all pupils can access the ambitious curriculum. The personal, social, and health education curriculum promotes an understanding of diverse family structures and the importance of physical and mental health. However, pupils' understanding of different religions and worldviews is underdeveloped, indicating a need for a broader curriculum that includes various cultures and beliefs.
The governing body has a clear vision for the school, but recent changes have limited their ability to monitor the impact of school actions effectively. Staff feel valued and supported, appreciating the consideration given to their workload. Safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils.
To improve, the school needs to ensure that lessons align more closely with long-term curriculum goals, allowing pupils to learn the full breadth of the curriculum. Additionally, enhancing pupils' understanding of world faiths and cultures is essential for fostering a comprehensive understanding of modern Britain. The governing body should also strengthen its oversight to support and challenge the school effectively. Overall, East Ayton Community Primary School demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and the well-being of its pupils.
