Bushey Heath Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils love attending this wonderful school where they know they are 'made of stardust and are all individually special'.

From the moment children start in the early years they develop a passion for learning and a thirst for knowledge. Pupils are inspired to learn through the thoughtfully planned curriculum and exceptional enrichment opportunities. Joy floods through the school.

Pupils learn to play the drums and the bass in the music studio or create podcasts and vlogs for 'Bushey Heath Kids' News' in the digital media suite.

Pupils behave exceptionally well. Children in the early years learn the routines and high expectations of the school quickly.

...>They develop the independence and resilience they need to be successful learners. Pupils look after each other here. Laughter and happiness fill the playground as pupils of all ages play tennis, hockey and basketball together.

Pupils are extremely proud of their school. They live the values of respect, encourage and achieve, in all they do. Whether they are looking after the school chickens or helping the elderly in the community, pupils conduct themselves with maturity and kindness.

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

The school has created a curriculum that is highly ambitious for what pupils will achieve. Leaders regularly review the effectiveness of this curriculum. This enables them to identify where they could further deepen pupils' learning.

For example, the school has recently reviewed design and technology. Even though pupils are already learning very well, the school has identified ways to make this learning even richer. Pupils now have greater opportunities to secure a thorough understanding of the entire process which designers go through.

The governing body and staff have a shared understanding of why the curriculum is right and relevant for their pupils. Staff are highly knowledgeable in how to teach the curriculum. They do this incredibly well.

Thoughtful and considerate training helps staff to develop their knowledge further. Staff are appreciative of this ongoing support. They love working at Bushey Heath and feel well looked after.

Staff make thoughtful and intelligent checks on learning. They then take swift and appropriate action to revisit or move learning on. This helps pupils secure their understanding and make connections between what they already know and what they are learning now.

Pupils develop a profound understanding of the curriculum and produce work that is of an exceptional quality. As pupils learn, they see themselves as designers, musicians, historians, mathematicians and more.

The school has established commonly understood ways to identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Staff are experts in how to support these pupils. When it is appropriate, staff make subtle and specific adaptations to their teaching. For example, the careful selection of resources helps pupils with SEND to access learning and achieve well.

Staff in the early years constantly expose children to high-quality language. Children then confidently use this language themselves. The activities the school chooses for children to complete help them to learn well across all areas of the curriculum.

Of particular note is the way children build their concentration and perseverance by sticking with activities that challenge them. This prepares children very well for key stage 1.

A love of reading permeates the early years environment.

This then flows through to other year groups. Sharing stories is a highlight of the school day. Should any pupil require help with reading, this is given quickly.

Staff ably support pupils to blend sounds together to read unfamiliar words. Pupils value the books they choose for themselves. They are inspired to be presented with 'gold coins' for demonstrating the school values.

With these, they can choose a new book from the vending machine.

The school is determined to provide pupils with opportunities to discover new talents and interests. Pupils love to learn instruments in the music studio or how to code during robotics club.

Trips to places such as Normandy provide memorable moments, while bringing the curriculum to life. The personal, social, health and economic education curriculum provides pupils with a secure understanding of important knowledge. Through this curriculum they learn the importance of building and maintaining healthy relationships.

They also learn the value of respect. This helps to establish a community where differences are celebrated and pupils feel valued, happy and safe.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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