Adswood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school's vision is built around 'enjoy, believe, achieve'. Pupils understand that the things they learn now will help them achieve their aspirations for the future. This inspires pupils to persevere when learning new things.

There is a real sense of community at Adswood Primary School. The school has built very positive relationships with pupils and their families. It has created an inclusive culture that helps pupils to feel happy and safe.

The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve. In early years, children quickly master the skills they need for future learning. They are well prepared for Year 1 and beyond.

Pupils' attainment and prog...ress are much higher than the published data suggests. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well from their starting points. They receive high-quality support.

Across the school, pupils are becoming confident learners, including those who are disadvantaged.

Staff help pupils to successfully manage their own feelings and behaviour. They apply the school's expectations about behaviour consistently well.

Pupils rise to these expectations and treat each other with kindness and respect. Pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to their learning. The school is helping pupils and families to understand the importance of attending school regularly.

Pupils' attendance is improving.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has established an ambitious curriculum that starts in early years. For example, children eagerly investigate the outdoors and examine the signs of autumn.

They compare the natural objects around them with ease. Children find this learning irresistible. Across school, the curriculum is equally broad and ambitious.

This ambition is realised in most subjects. Staff regularly check what pupils know and remember. While published outcomes are low, these do not reflect pupils' current achievements.

In many subjects, pupils achieve well from their individual starting points.

In many subjects, staff give children lots of opportunities to develop their skills from the early years. For example, in mathematics, children compare different ways to make and represent the number three.

They become confident with number quickly. Throughout the school, pupils have lots of opportunities to rehearse and revisit learning. This is helping them to know and remember more over time.

However, in a few subjects, the important knowledge that pupils need to learn and when this should be taught is not defined clearly enough. In these subjects, sometimes pupils struggle to connect new learning to the things that they already know.The school has made sure that reading is a priority.

Pupils have very positive attitudes towards reading. They spoke with enthusiasm about their favourite books and authors. In early years, children benefit from high-quality interactions with staff.

Most pupils use new language confidently and quickly master phonics. Across school, the books that pupils read match the sounds that they know. Staff have the right training to enable them to teach phonics successfully from the start.

Staff quickly identify pupils who are at risk of falling behind with learning to read. The school provides effective support so that they catch up with their peers.The school identifies the additional needs of pupils with SEND quickly and accurately.

If pupils have different starting points, the school makes sure that they receive effective support to learn the curriculum. This is helping pupils to develop their confidence and communication skills. Staff place no limits on what pupils can do and achieve.

Pupils with SEND flourish and they achieve very well.

The school has developed a highly ambitious life skills curriculum. This supports pupils to acquire a wide range of skills.

For example, pupils write job applications and join the local library. These experiences prepare pupils very well for their future lives. Pupils spoke with maturity about issues such as healthy relationships and consent.

They know how to stay safe when online and the importance of not sharing personal information.

The school deliberately broadens pupils' experiences by providing opportunities for them to take on leadership roles. Some pupils help others as well-being buddies.

Others work as librarians helping to manage the school library. These experiences encourage pupils to become active citizens in their school community.

Those responsible for governance are knowledgeable about the school.

They check that the school is providing pupils with a curriculum that helps all pupils to achieve well. The workload and well-being of all staff is a priority. The school makes sure that staff have the support that they need to undertake their responsibilities effectively.

Staff are proud to work in this very inclusive school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, the important knowledge that pupils should learn is not identified clearly enough.

This hinders how well teachers support pupils to connect their new learning to the things that they already know. The school should ensure that teachers are clear about the essential knowledge that pupils should learn and when this content should be taught. This is so that pupils can connect and remember their new learning.