Emneth Academy’s Ofsted rating upgraded from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ after latest inspection - with early years now ‘outstanding’

A village primary school which was previously rated as ‘requires improvement‘ has been upgraded to ‘good’.

Emneth Academy, which is a member of the Eastern Multi Academy Trust, was last inspected in February 2020, when it was told that it needed to improve.

Following an inspection by Ofsted last month, the academy has been handed an overall ‘good’ rating and ‘outstanding’ for its early years provision.

The report recognised that “the school has designed a well-sequenced curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils”.

“It sets out the knowledge and skills that pupils will learn,” it adds.

“The Early Years curriculum is particularly effective. Leaders’ vision is that this school will ‘be too good to miss’.”

In recognising that the early years provision at Emneth is outstanding, inspectors said that children “get off to a flying start” and that “well-trained adults expertly extend talk further through carefully selected activities”.

“This helps children, including those with SEND, to learn very well. Consequently, children are very well prepared for Year 1,” the inspector said.

Paul Shanks, chief executive of Eastern Multi Academy Trust, said: “We are immensely proud of the achievements of Emneth Academy.

“The staff works tirelessly for the children and families that they serve and this report recognises both the impact of this work across the school and the value that we place as a Trust on ensuring children receive the very best start to their education in the Foundation Stage.”

Principal Elaine Huntington added: “Our very favourable report leaves me bursting with pride.

“I am proud to lead our amazing team of committed staff, wonderful children, and supportive community.

“This report is well-deserved recognition for the whole team effort, who share their time and talents, selflessly for the good of our children’s education.

“We are all so proud to celebrate the successful learning environment we have created that is Emneth Academy.”

To improve, inspectors said that there are some pupils who had been at the school longer who have “not benefitted fully from the current curriculum” and so have “gaps in their learning”.

“The school should continue to check that important knowledge and skills are secure for all pupils in each year group,” they said.

“They should continue to ensure that teachers address these gaps in learning so that all pupils progress as well as they can.”

They added that some pupils “do not attend school as frequently as they should”, so they recommend that the school continues to use new systems and process with those pupils and families who “find frequent attendance a challenge so that their attendance improves”.