Beech Grove Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

There is a strong sense of community at Beech Grove. Pupils are happy and safe. They form strong relationships with adults and want to do well.

Staff have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils, including children in the early years foundation stage, are committed to following the three rules of 'be ready, be respectful and be safe'.

Behaviour around the school site is calm.

Pupils play cooperatively together and some take on the role of being a peer mediator. They enjoy this responsibility. Pupils are taught about bullying and say this is rare.

They have confidence in adults to resolve any concerns they have. Leaders have created a nur...ture area and sensory room to provide extra support for pupils who need it.

Pupils benefit from a wide range of opportunities outside of the classroom.

This includes a trip to the Houses of Parliament, residential visits and a week dedicated to science. The school participates in the Civic Awards with the local council. This helps to develop pupils' confidence and shows them how to be active citizens in the community.

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

There is a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders ensure children in the early years foundation stage receive a curriculum that prepares them well for the next stage. In most subjects, leaders have planned the knowledge pupils need to learn carefully.

The curriculum in these subjects is well sequenced, with planned opportunities to check what pupils know. In some subjects, there is not the same level of detail in the planning and sequencing of what pupils should learn.

Staff have a secure understanding of how to support pupils with SEND.

Parents are particularly positive about the high-quality education that their children receive. Some pupils with very specific needs have an alternative, personalised curriculum. This is appropriate and reviewed regularly.

Leaders have made reading a priority. Pupils at the early stages of reading follow a clear programme. This is well planned and pupils' progress is carefully tracked.

All staff have received training which means that effective phonics teaching is consistently delivered across all groups. Pupils then move on to develop their skills in fluency and comprehension. Storytelling is a valued part of the curriculum.

Pupils, including children in Reception Year, say they enjoy books being read aloud to them. These texts are often on topics explored in the wider curriculum.

Most pupils are enthusiastic about their learning.

Low-level disruption is rare and not tolerated by staff. Parents are confident in how staff support pupils to manage their behaviour. Pupils engage positively in opportunities for play during their social times.

They use equipment sensibly and take responsibility for tidying it away. Children in Reception learn routines quickly. They listen carefully to adults and take turns when working with their peers.

Leaders have established a comprehensive programme for pupils' wider development. Pupils learn how to look after their mental and physical health. They also know how to keep themselves safe online.

British values, such as democracy, are explored through the curriculum. Assemblies are used purposefully to explore important issues, such as anti-bullying. Pupils have an age-appropriate understanding of diversity and learn about cultures and religions different from their own.

The school offers a range of extra-curricular activities for pupils to participate in. However, they do not have a sufficient enough overview of which pupils are regularly taking part in these.

Leaders, including governors, prioritise staff's well-being.

They consider the impact on workload of decisions they make. Staff, including early career teachers, say that they feel well supported and that leaders are approachable. Staff benefit from a wide range of professional development opportunities.

Governors have welcomed expert support from outside of the school, as well as sharing best practice within.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a robust process for staff recruitment.

All staff and governors receive appropriate safeguarding training. They report any concerns about pupils promptly, using established systems. This ensures that pupils receive any help and support they need quickly.

The safeguarding team provides regular briefings to staff. This keeps them up to date with relevant issues. Key information around safeguarding is also shared with parents in the school newsletter.

This all helps to create a culture of vigilance about potential safeguarding issues.

Leaders ensure the curriculum provides pupils with an age-appropriate understanding of how to keep themselves safe. This includes online safety and knowledge about harmful sexual behaviours.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The core knowledge that pupils need to learn has not been planned in detail in some subjects in the curriculum. Therefore, pupils do not always build a secure, consistent knowledge in these subjects as they move through the key stages. Leaders should ensure that curriculum planning identifies the explicit knowledge that pupils should be taught in all subjects.

Leaders do not have a detailed enough understanding of the pattern of pupils' participation in extra-curricular activities. This means they do not know which pupils are accessing these opportunities on a regular basis. Leaders should ensure that they have a comprehensive overview which allows them to check that there is equal access to such opportunities for all pupils.

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