Ofsted Reports

Ofsted reports

Read Write Inc. schools (with an online subscription) that have been subject to an Ofsted inspection from 1st September 2021.

Check out the excellent paragraphs on the reading deep dives.

Priestmead Primary School and Nursery, Harrow, London

“Staff receive excellent training to deliver the phonics programme expertly. Pupils therefore learn the sounds that letters make securely. There is a comprehensive catch-up programme to ensure that all pupils become fluent readers. The school ensures that pupils are exposed to a diverse range of books during their time at the school, including modern classics and Shakespearean sonnets.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

All Souls C of E Primary School, Heywood, Lancashire

“A love of reading permeates the school. […] Staff have a strong understanding of the early reading curriculum, and they deliver the phonics programme with considerable flair and expertise.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Selborne Primary School, Greenford, London

“Learning to read and becoming a fluent reader are absolute priorities for the school. Staff are trained as expert teachers of reading. […] Pupils show a genuine love of reading and of books. They talk with joy about a wide range of different texts.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Lacey Green Primary Academy, Wimslow, Cheshire

“The school places reading at the heart of all learning. […] In the Reception Year, there is a sharp focus on ensuring that children start learning the phonics code straight away. They quickly gain the necessary knowledge to read books that match the sounds that they know.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: N/A

Read More »

Four Dwellings Primary Academy, Quinton, Birmingham

“Reading is at the heart of the school. […] The teaching of early reading skills is a strength of the school. Pupils who need support receive it quickly. Pupils love reading and make good progress in their phonics learning.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement

Read More »

Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School, Croxteth, Merseyside

“Staff are experts at teaching phonics. Pupils, including those with SEND, who may find reading more difficult, receive the targeted help that they need. Pupils secure the basics of reading in their memory quickly and securely. This enables them to read fluently and to access the richness of other parts of the school’s curriculum.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Roundhay School, Leeds, West Yorkshire

“The school has a determination that all pupils will learn to read with precision and fluency. Children are expertly taught phonics from the very start of Reception. By the end of Year 2, almost all pupils are reading accurately and confidently. As pupils move through the primary phase, they read a range of interesting books. The focus on reading continues in the secondary phase.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School, Blackpool, Lancashire

“Reading is a top priority for the school. In the early years, children revel in the stories, rhymes, and songs that they learn in the Nursery classes. They are well prepared to begin to use phonics to read words by the time that they reach the
Reception Year. […] Skilled staff support pupils to practise and refine their reading knowledge.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Scawby Academy, Scawby, Lincolnshire

“Reading is a strength of the school. […] Pupils take home reading books which are well matched to the sounds they know. This helps them to become fluent and confident readers. The school fosters a love a reading and pupils read daily.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Merrydale Infant School, Leicester, Leicestershire

“Reading is a high priority in the school. Children in the early years love practising their phonics. Everyone works together well to develop pupils’ accuracy and fluency. Pupils learn the sounds that letters make in a well-sequenced way. Pupils who need further support access extra interventions to help them keep up.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Newton Blossomville Church of England School, Newton Blossomville, Bedfordshire

“Staff are exceptionally well trained so that the teaching of phonics is precise and accurate. […] [Pupils] skilfully use their knowledge of phonics to develop fluency when reading to an adult. Pupils relish the books the teachers read to them. They recall with excitement the stories they have enjoyed.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Bentley Wood High School, Stanmore, London

“Teachers are experts in their subjects and build pupils’ confidence by offering clear and helpful feedback. This is evident in reading, where leaders quickly assess pupils’ needs and provide clear support to ensure that pupils can catch up if they have fallen behind. Teachers are well trained and use well-selected resources to build up reading fluency.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Rawmarsh Ryecroft Infant School, Rotherham, South Yorkshire

“[The School] are becoming experts in teaching pupils to read. Children who need help with reading are quickly identified. They get extra daily practice to close the gaps in their knowledge of sounds. The books that pupils read match the sounds that they know. Pupils across the school practise their reading every day to increase their fluency.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Shortbrook Primary School, Westfield, Sheffield

“The school uses a systematic approach to the teaching of reading. Training for staff ensures they teach pupils the sounds that letters make through consistent teaching strategies. […] books have been carefully considered to broaden pupils’ vocabulary and foster a love of reading.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Hillside Primary School, Reading, Berkshire

“The school has embedded its early reading scheme. Skilled teaching and support staff ensure pupils learn their early phonics sounds. Should a pupil start to fall behind, teachers quickly provide focused support which helps pupils catch up. […] pupils enjoy reading because they understand the books they are reading.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »
  • Priestmead Primary School and Nursery, Harrow, London 14 December 2023
    “Staff receive excellent training to deliver the phonics programme expertly. Pupils therefore learn the sounds that letters make securely. There is a comprehensive catch-up programme to ensure that all pupils become fluent readers. The school ensures that pupils are exposed to a diverse range of books during their time at the school, including modern classics ...
  • All Souls C of E Primary School, Heywood, Lancashire 6 December 2023
    “A love of reading permeates the school. Staff have a strong understanding of the early reading curriculum, and they deliver the phonics programme with considerable flair and expertise.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery School, Cricklewood, London 5 December 2023
    “Leaders have promoted a positive reading culture that begins in the early years. Staff are experts in enabling pupils to learn new sounds. As a result, children learn to read and write sounds rapidly and accurately.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Selborne Primary School, Greenford, London 29 November 2023
    “Learning to read and becoming a fluent reader are absolute priorities for the school. Staff are trained as expert teachers of reading. Pupils show a genuine love of reading and of books. They talk with joy about a wide range of different texts.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Lacey Green Primary Academy, Wimslow, Cheshire 29 November 2023
    “The school places reading at the heart of all learning. In the Reception Year, there is a sharp focus on ensuring that children start learning the phonics code straight away. They quickly gain the necessary knowledge to read books that match the sounds that they know.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: N/A
  • Four Dwellings Primary Academy, Quinton, Birmingham 29 November 2023
    “Reading is at the heart of the school. The teaching of early reading skills is a strength of the school. Pupils who need support receive it quickly. Pupils love reading and make good progress in their phonics learning.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement
  • Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School, Croxteth, Merseyside 28 November 2023
    “Staff are experts at teaching phonics. Pupils, including those with SEND, who may find reading more difficult, receive the targeted help that they need. Pupils secure the basics of reading in their memory quickly and securely. This enables them to read fluently and to access the richness of other parts of the school’s curriculum.” School Inspection: ...
  • Roundhay School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 28 November 2023
    “The school has a determination that all pupils will learn to read with precision and fluency. Children are expertly taught phonics from the very start of Reception. By the end of Year 2, almost all pupils are reading accurately and confidently. As pupils move through the primary phase, they read a range of interesting books. ...
  • St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School, Blackpool, Lancashire 22 November 2023
    “Reading is a top priority for the school. In the early years, children revel in the stories, rhymes, and songs that they learn in the Nursery classes. They are well prepared to begin to use phonics to read words by the time that they reach the Reception Year. Skilled staff support pupils to practise and ...
  • Scawby Academy, Scawby, Lincolnshire 22 November 2023
    “Reading is a strength of the school. Pupils take home reading books which are well matched to the sounds they know. This helps them to become fluent and confident readers. The school fosters a love a reading and pupils read daily.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Good
  • Merrydale Infant School, Leicester, Leicestershire 21 November 2023
    “Reading is a high priority in the school. Children in the early years love practising their phonics. Everyone works together well to develop pupils’ accuracy and fluency. Pupils learn the sounds that letters make in a well-sequenced way. Pupils who need further support access extra interventions to help them keep up.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Good
  • Newton Blossomville Church of England School, Newton Blossomville, Bedfordshire 21 November 2023
    “Staff are exceptionally well trained so that the teaching of phonics is precise and accurate. skilfully use their knowledge of phonics to develop fluency when reading to an adult. Pupils relish the books the teachers read to them. They recall with excitement the stories they have enjoyed.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read Write Inc. schools (with an online subscription) that have been subject to an Ofsted inspection from 1st September 2021.

Check out the excellent paragraphs on the reading deep dives.

Town Lane Infant School, Bebington, Merseyside

“Reading has the highest priority. The phonics programme is delivered consistently well by expert staff. […] Reading books are very well matched to the sounds that pupils know. This ensures that pupils can practise reading and enjoy success. A wide range of high-quality books help pupils to develop a love of reading.”
School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

Catherine Junior School, Leicester, Leicestershire

“Leaders have prioritised reading. The school supports pupils who are at an early stage of reading by providing targeted phonics teaching. Trained staff enable pupils to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to become fluent readers.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Tor Bridge Primary School, Plymouth, Devon 

“Children are immersed in reading as soon as they join the school. Pupils follow a well-designed phonics curriculum, which is taught precisely. If they require additional support, this is recognised quickly. Staff then take swift action to help pupils to catch up.”

School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: N/A

Read More »

Field Lane Primary School, Brighouse, West Yorkshire 

“Pupils are well supported to develop a genuine love for reading as soon as they start school. Leaders provide staff with the training they need to implement the phonics programme consistently and with precision. They check regularly that pupils are keeping up. Those at risk of falling behind are supported to catch up quickly.”

School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement

Read More »

Jerry Clay Academy, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 

“All adults are experts at teaching early reading. Pupils as young as Year 1 understand grammatical terminology, such as prefix and suffix.
Typically, all pupils pass the Year 1 phonics screening check each year.” 

School Inspection: Outstanding
Previous Inspection: Outstanding

Read More »

St Matthew’s Church of England Primary School, Oldham, Greater Manchester

“The school has successfully introduced a
new phonics programme. Staff are well trained to deliver this programme effectively. […] Skilled support from staff ensures that pupils who find reading difficult, including
older pupils in key stage 2, catch up with their peers. The school ensures that parents
know how to continue this support at home…”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Minet Infant and Nursery School, Hayes, London

“A strong culture of reading is evident across the school. Early reading is prioritised right from the start using a systematic phonics programme. The school ensures that there is regular training in phonics for all staff to ensure consistency in how reading is taught.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School, St Albans, Hertfordshire

“The school worked at pace to put in place a rigorous phonics programme. There is bespoke training for staff. This focuses on the elements that pupils need in order to progress to the next stage of the programme. If they do fall behind, pupils receive timely and effective help. Pupils regularly revise the sounds they need to learn. This systematic approach helps them to become confident and fluent readers.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Lydford Primary School, Okehampton, Devon 

“From their start in Reception, children enjoy listening to stories. They quickly learn sounds that enable them to begin to read simple words. Regular checks on their learning mean that pupils build accuracy and confidence. Any pupils who struggle receive the support they need to catch up.”

School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Millcourt School, Shelf, Halifax

“Teaching pupils to read is a key focus in school. Well-trained staff support those pupils who need specialist phonics support. Daily reading and story sessions happen every day.”

School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement

Read More »

Longcause Community Special School, Plymouth, Devon 

“The school aims for every pupil to become a reader. Pupils benefit from highly effective phonics teaching across the school. The school ensures staff have the knowledge and expertise to teach phonics skilfully.”

School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Burraton Community Primary School, Saltash, Cornwall 

“Staff training ensures that there is a consistent approach to the teaching of phonics. Children begin their phonics learning in Nursery. They start to learn to read as soon as they begin Reception Year. The school regularly checks pupils’ phonics knowledge and quickly identifies those who need additional support.”

School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Greswell Primary School and Nursery, Denton, Greater Manchester

“The way pupils learn to read has
been transformed since the last inspection. Staff are experts in teaching early
reading. Their teaching enables almost all pupils to become technically accurate
readers. Staff skilfully support pupils who find some aspects of reading difficult. This
enables them to keep up with their classmates.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »

Chapel-en-le-Frith CofE VC Primary School, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire

“The school has a well-established approach to teaching early reading. The teaching
of phonics is effective and secures rapid progress. Any pupils that need extra
support with their reading attend additional classes with well-trained staff. Older
pupils talk very positively about reading. Many parents commented on how well they
feel the school fosters a love of reading.”
School Inspection: Good
Previous Inspection: Good

Read More »
  • Priestmead Primary School and Nursery, Harrow, London 14 December 2023
    “Staff receive excellent training to deliver the phonics programme expertly. Pupils therefore learn the sounds that letters make securely. There is a comprehensive catch-up programme to ensure that all pupils become fluent readers. The school ensures that pupils are exposed to a diverse range of books during their time at the school, including modern classics ...
  • All Souls C of E Primary School, Heywood, Lancashire 6 December 2023
    “A love of reading permeates the school. Staff have a strong understanding of the early reading curriculum, and they deliver the phonics programme with considerable flair and expertise.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery School, Cricklewood, London 5 December 2023
    “Leaders have promoted a positive reading culture that begins in the early years. Staff are experts in enabling pupils to learn new sounds. As a result, children learn to read and write sounds rapidly and accurately.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Selborne Primary School, Greenford, London 29 November 2023
    “Learning to read and becoming a fluent reader are absolute priorities for the school. Staff are trained as expert teachers of reading. Pupils show a genuine love of reading and of books. They talk with joy about a wide range of different texts.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding
  • Lacey Green Primary Academy, Wimslow, Cheshire 29 November 2023
    “The school places reading at the heart of all learning. In the Reception Year, there is a sharp focus on ensuring that children start learning the phonics code straight away. They quickly gain the necessary knowledge to read books that match the sounds that they know.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: N/A
  • Four Dwellings Primary Academy, Quinton, Birmingham 29 November 2023
    “Reading is at the heart of the school. The teaching of early reading skills is a strength of the school. Pupils who need support receive it quickly. Pupils love reading and make good progress in their phonics learning.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Requires Improvement
  • Emmaus Church of England and Catholic Primary School, Croxteth, Merseyside 28 November 2023
    “Staff are experts at teaching phonics. Pupils, including those with SEND, who may find reading more difficult, receive the targeted help that they need. Pupils secure the basics of reading in their memory quickly and securely. This enables them to read fluently and to access the richness of other parts of the school’s curriculum.” School Inspection: ...
  • Roundhay School, Leeds, West Yorkshire 28 November 2023
    “The school has a determination that all pupils will learn to read with precision and fluency. Children are expertly taught phonics from the very start of Reception. By the end of Year 2, almost all pupils are reading accurately and confidently. As pupils move through the primary phase, they read a range of interesting books. ...
  • St John Vianney’s Catholic Primary School, Blackpool, Lancashire 22 November 2023
    “Reading is a top priority for the school. In the early years, children revel in the stories, rhymes, and songs that they learn in the Nursery classes. They are well prepared to begin to use phonics to read words by the time that they reach the Reception Year. Skilled staff support pupils to practise and ...
  • Scawby Academy, Scawby, Lincolnshire 22 November 2023
    “Reading is a strength of the school. Pupils take home reading books which are well matched to the sounds they know. This helps them to become fluent and confident readers. The school fosters a love a reading and pupils read daily.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Good
  • Merrydale Infant School, Leicester, Leicestershire 21 November 2023
    “Reading is a high priority in the school. Children in the early years love practising their phonics. Everyone works together well to develop pupils’ accuracy and fluency. Pupils learn the sounds that letters make in a well-sequenced way. Pupils who need further support access extra interventions to help them keep up.” School Inspection: Good Previous Inspection: Good
  • Newton Blossomville Church of England School, Newton Blossomville, Bedfordshire 21 November 2023
    “Staff are exceptionally well trained so that the teaching of phonics is precise and accurate. skilfully use their knowledge of phonics to develop fluency when reading to an adult. Pupils relish the books the teachers read to them. They recall with excitement the stories they have enjoyed.” School Inspection: Outstanding Previous Inspection: Outstanding

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