Berrywood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Berrywood Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are very proud of what they describe as their 'school within a garden'.

They enjoy the many different outdoor learning opportunities available within the school grounds. These include stories around the campfire in the woodlands as well as growing and selling the school's fruit and vegetables.

The love of reading is central to pupils' learning.

Pupils talk enthusiastically about the rich variety of books their teachers read with them. These books are used sensitively to consider some challenging themes about growing up in today's society. Classrooms are safe place...s where pupils listen to the views of others and confidently share their own opinions.

One pupil explained, 'You can always show a different side of yourself because you are not judged.'

Pupils are keen to learn. They know their teachers have high expectations of them and they consistently strive to meet these.

Alongside this, pupils and parents hugely value the care shown by staff to all pupils. This has been particularly appreciated over the last year during the disruption caused by COVID-19 (coronavirus). Pupils know their role in supporting their friends and talking to a trusted adult about any concerns they may have.

Bullying is therefore very rare.

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

Pupils, parents and staff are overwhelmingly positive about leaders' determination to help every pupil achieve their very best. The school's curriculum, 'The Berrywood Way', has been thoughtfully planned so pupils can develop their knowledge across a broad range of subjects.

Pupils are encouraged to think about the interesting topics they study and pose questions about their learning. Leaders are very proud of how parents support the school's curriculum through the regular project celebration events. Staff are eager to reinstate these as soon as possible, as they have been sorely missed over the past year.

Early reading is taught well. Pupils in Reception and key stage 1 learn their letters and sounds throughout the school day. Staff are highly trained and know what each child needs to develop their confidence in reading.

This knowledge was used during the online teaching of phonics during the most recent period of remote education. Almost all pupils can read well by the end of key stage 1. Those who fall behind get the support they need to catch up quickly.

Pupils therefore have the reading skills they need to enjoy the many interesting texts they discover in key stage 2.

Leaders have organised sensibly when and how mathematical knowledge is taught. Teachers have good subject knowledge and help pupils confidently explore mathematical topics.

They regularly check pupils are building upon what they have learned before. These checks, however, are not yet consistently in place in every other subject across the school's curriculum. As a result, teachers are less confident in knowing how pupils' knowledge is developing and where further support may be required.

Leaders have plans in place to improve this.

Children make a very strong start in the early years because staff know them so well. Since September, careful observations have taken place to consider what extra support might be needed because of the disruption over the past year.

This has included providing many opportunities to develop children's language and communication. After-school events, such as storytelling during 'Berrywood By Torchlight', help parents have an active role in their child's learning.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities achieve well.

Leaders have created an inclusive school where pupils' individual needs are known and supported. Staff respond quickly to any concerns expressed by pupils or parents. Pupils regularly contribute to the detailed action plans that are put in place to help them.

Classrooms are calm and purposeful places where pupils know the high expectations for their behaviour. They listen attentively to their teachers and lessons are rarely disrupted. During social times, pupils play well together.

They show kindness and respect to their friends, the adults that help them and to the school grounds.

Pupils readily recall many memories of the different extra-curricular opportunities they have enjoyed. Trips out and speaking to visitors to the school has helped pupils develop their spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding of the world around them.

Most recently, parents and pupils have welcomed the after-school clubs that have restarted. This includes the school's production of 'Alice in Wonderland' as well as many sporting activities.

All staff receive high-quality training and use this daily in classrooms.

They work hard but do this knowing their well-being and workload is regularly considered by leaders. Staff are very proud to work at Berrywood.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders take the safeguarding of their pupils very seriously. Staff are alert to any small changes in pupils' behaviour and pass these concerns on quickly. Leaders respond swiftly to ensure that pupils and their families get the right support at the right time.

Record-keeping is meticulous and reviewed regularly by a well-trained and highly skilled safeguarding team.

The well-being of pupils is prioritised by leaders. Relationships have continued to strengthen with pupils and families who have needed extra support over the last year.

One parent reflected on Ofsted's Parent View how her child has grown in confidence through the care school staff have given her.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Assessment within the foundation subjects is not yet consistently in place. As a result, teachers are less confident in accurately checking how pupils' knowledge and understanding within some subjects is developing.

This means it is difficult to determine where further support may be required. Leaders should carefully monitor the effectiveness of assessment to ensure that pupils know and remember more across the school's curriculum.

Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good.

This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find some evidence that a good school could now be better than good, or that standards may be declining, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection.

Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will convert the section 8 inspection to a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good in May 2016.

Also at this postcode