Appleton Primary School, located on Appleton Road in Hull, has been assessed as a good school following its inspection on November 24 and 25, 2021. The school maintains high expectations for pupil behavior, with students demonstrating a clear understanding of the behavior steps and the consequences of unacceptable actions. Pupils are aware of what constitutes bullying and express confidence in the support they would receive from teachers if they felt bullied.
The school is actively working on enhancing its curriculum. Leaders have introduced knowledge organizers for each unit of work, focusing on key knowledge that pupils should retain. They are currently ensuring that lesson content is sequenced effectively to aid in the recall of essential knowledge. While some areas of the curriculum, such as science, religious education, mathematics, and English, are well-structured, others, like history, require further development to align with the identified essential knowledge.
Appleton Primary School offers a diverse range of extracurricular activities, which have been quickly reinstated despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The introduction of emotional literacy support assistants has been beneficial, providing pupils with a resource to discuss their worries, particularly for those who have experienced anxiety during the transition back to school post-pandemic. The school encourages community involvement, with pupils participating in donations to local food banks and visiting nearby residents.
The school has established a strong reading culture, prioritizing a consistent phonics teaching scheme. The expectation is that every child becomes a reader, with teachers and teaching assistants using uniform language to support this goal. Pupils are assessed every half term to tailor lessons to their needs, and additional support is provided for those struggling with phonics. However, there are concerns regarding letter formation, which has been affected by the use of laptops during remote learning. Leaders have recognized this issue and have implemented daily handwriting sessions, although consistent monitoring of letter formation during writing tasks is still needed.
In the early years, learning through play is effectively engaging children, with skilled adults supporting vocabulary development and phonics practice. The use of phonics pinny by adults allows for spontaneous phonics reinforcement throughout the day. Children demonstrate cooperative behavior and take turns during activities, indicating a positive learning environment.
The school has a structured approach to teaching personal, social, and health education, as well as British values and relationship education. The concept of consent is integrated into the curriculum, with age-appropriate discussions on the topic. Pupils show respect for diversity in race, religion, and disabilities.
The special educational needs and disabilities coordinator has provided training to ensure that teachers set achievable targets for pupils with SEND. While these targets are clear, there is limited evidence in pupils' workbooks to show that they are being consistently addressed, which may hinder progress for these students.
Staff express positive sentiments regarding the management of their workload and well-being. The local advisory board is knowledgeable about the school's strengths and areas for improvement, and the chair acknowledges the support from the trust in the school's development journey.
The safeguarding arrangements at Appleton Primary School are effective, with thorough checks on staff suitability and regular safeguarding training. The designated safeguarding lead provides monthly updates to staff, ensuring that everyone is informed about current challenges affecting the school. Pupils report feeling safe throughout the school environment.
To improve, the school needs to continue refining its curriculum sequencing and ensure that essential knowledge and skills are clearly identified for each unit. Attention to letter formation in writing tasks should be prioritized to facilitate rapid improvement. Additionally, the implementation of support plans for SEND pupils should be closely monitored to ensure that interventions are effective and progress is made within a reasonable timeframe. Overall, Appleton Primary School is on a positive trajectory, with leaders actively addressing areas for development while maintaining a supportive and engaging learning environment for all pupils.
