CHILDREN are falling behind in their education due to the quality of teaching at a primary school, Ofsted inspectors have found.

In a report published on Thursday, Westborough Academy, in Westcliff has been rated as requires improvement by the education watchdog.

Inspectors raised concerns about the quality of the teaching, especially in mathematics, after they carried out an inspection in September.

School bosses have insisted they are determined to improve the situation.

The report says: “Younger pupils are not developing their early reading skills. Teachers do not have strong subject knowledge in phonics to support the teaching of early reading skills.

“Staff do not ensure pupils are secure with sounds being taught before moving on to teaching the new sounds.

“Previously, teachers gave young readers books that were not matched to the sounds they know.

“Consequently, pupils’ reading skills fell behind where they should have been. While leaders have reviewed this, it has caused too many pupils to struggle with reading.”

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Inspectors also noted that leaders have planned a well-structured curriculum and that pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are well supported.

The report added: “The quality of education, including in early reading, in early years is better than in the rest of the school.

“This is because there is a well-thought-through curriculum for children’s development from their starting points up to when they enter Year 1.”

The school has 485 children on its books aged three to 11-years-old and it opened on 1 July 2017. Since September 2021, it has been part of South East Essex Academy Trust.

Headteacher Gaby Brook said: “Ofsted have acknowledged the school’s good capacity to improve further, and we are determined as a staff to improve these areas and know that this is achievable.”

The education watchdog inspected the academy on September 21 and 22.