Ofsted says Latchford St James needs attention on leadership and early years. Penketh South is strong on attendance; Cherry Tree Nursery strong in three areas.

Ofsted has told Latchford St James CofE Primary School that its leadership and its early years teaching need attention. Inspectors said the school had been through “a significant period of turbulence and instability” and that its staff body is “fractured”.

The report card is one of four that Ofsted has published for Warrington schools and nurseries this month. Two nurseries and a Penketh primary came out well.

The four reports

School or nursery Where Inspected Published Headline grades
Latchford St James CofE Primary Old Road, WA4 1AP 9 Sep 7 Oct Needs attention for leadership and early years; expected standard in five areas
Penketh South Community Primary Finlay Avenue, WA5 2PN 9 Sep 9 Oct Strong standard for attendance and behaviour; expected standard in six areas
Cherry Tree Nursery School 73 Orford Lane, WA2 7BS 26 Aug 7 Oct Strong standard for achievement, inclusion, and welfare; expected standard in three areas
Little Angels Daycare River Road, WA4 6ZE 3 Sep 1 Oct Expected standard in all six areas

Safeguarding standards were met at all four. Ofsted’s report cards use five grades: exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention and urgent improvement. “Needs attention” means the expected standards are not met, but Ofsted thinks leaders are likely to be able to put that right.

Latchford St James: what inspectors found

The primary on Old Road has 188 pupils. Just under a third (31.74%) are eligible for free school meals, which Ofsted puts close to the national average.

On leadership, the report card says:

  • “The staff body is fractured. There are a number of staff who do not feel valued.”
  • Leaders, supported by the council, have “taken action to steady the ship”, including a change in governance.
  • Leaders “have not ensured that staff feel part of their vision for the school”, and this has slowed improvement.
  • Improvement plans sometimes “lack sufficient precision”, and staff training “lacks cohesion”.
  • Governors used to be “not sufficiently rigorous” in challenging leaders. Ofsted says this is beginning to change.

Inspectors were clear that children have been protected from the tension. “Leaders and staff have kept pupils’ best interests at the centre of their work,” the report says, and “pupils’ experiences and learning have not been negatively affected.”

In the early years, Ofsted found teaching inconsistent. Some resources in the outdoor area are out of reach for some children, which limits what they learn. It praised the work on language and communication, especially for children who speak English as an additional language.

There was good news too. Attendance among disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs is above the national average, which the report calls “worthy of note”. Persistent absence has fallen. Many pupils join the school part way through the year, the report says, and its published test results do not fully show the progress they make.

Penketh South: attendance and behaviour rated strong

Penketh South Community Primary, part of The Challenge Academy Trust, has 230 pupils. Its report card rates attendance and behaviour as a strong standard, above what is expected.

Inspectors said attendance “is consistently higher than national averages”, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. They found that “pupils behave extremely well in lessons and around the school”. Every other area met the expected standard.

The nurseries

Cherry Tree Nursery School on Orford Lane is a private day nursery for children up to four, with 100 places. It is not the Cherry Tree Primary School in Lymm. Its report card rates three areas as a strong standard. Inspectors wrote that children “achieve ambitious outcomes” and that children with special educational needs “make excellent progress”. They described a “highly inclusive culture” and said children “are very well cared for”.

Little Angels Daycare on River Road has 56 places for children aged one to three. Its report card found the expected standard in every area.

What it means for you

  • Parents at Latchford St James can read the whole report card on Ofsted’s site. Ofsted defines “needs attention” as standards not yet met, with leaders likely able to make the improvements.
  • Choosing a school? Reports like these are one source among several, so visit too. Our Warrington school term dates page has the holidays for every school.
  • Looking for nursery places? Both nurseries’ report cards list their places and age ranges, as above. Check funded-hours availability with the nursery directly.
  • To see any school’s latest report, search by name on reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Grades and quotations are taken from each provider’s Ofsted report card, as published between 1 and 9 October 2026.