Gidea Park Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Outcome

Gidea Park Primary School continues to be a good school.

What is it like to attend this school? '

Achieving excellence together' is the motto that guides everyone at this caring and popular community school. Pupils enjoy coming to school and are proud of their learning. Leaders have high expectations of pupils and of the staff team.

Leaders and teachers work together closely. They make sure that pupils typically learn well in a range of subjects.

Pupils are polite and kind to each other.

They behave well, and want to talk to visitors about their learning. Pupils said that bullying is rare. If there are any problems, staff sort things out quickly and sensitively..../>
This is appreciated by pupils. They know that staff will be there to help them if they have any worries. Pupils understand how leaders and staff expect them to behave.

Pupils become increasingly self-disciplined because they are supported by staff to reflect on their behaviour.

Parents and carers know that their children are well looked after. One parent, summing up the views of many others, said, 'I feel all my children are thriving at this school.'



Pupils enjoy the wide range of clubs and activities that the school provides. They speak enthusiastically about the Spanish and art clubs, for example, as well as the range of opportunities for sports clubs.

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

Leaders and staff have designed a curriculum which is well sequenced and sets out ambitious goals for what pupils will learn.

Leaders have broken down the knowledge pupils need to learn in each subject into clear steps. As a result, teachers know what they should be teaching so that pupils know and remember more. Pupils' work is generally of a high quality.

They are proud of how they are developing their knowledge and understanding.

Ensuring that pupils have the knowledge they need for their future learning shapes leaders' curricular thinking. In mathematics, for instance, pupils regularly practise multiplication facts and learn to use them fluently.

Pupils in Year 5 described how this knowledge helped them to better understand the fractions they were learning about. In the early years too, leaders think carefully about what children need to know in order to be ready for what comes next in the curriculum. For example, children develop a secure understanding of counting and ordering numbers to 10.

This prepares them well for when they learn more about how numbers and place value work in Years 1 and 2.

Subject leaders are passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. They support teachers to develop their expertise in teaching each subject.

In art, for example, materials have been designed to help teachers increase their own knowledge of different skills and techniques.

Leaders have made sure that reading is a high priority in the school. Pupils develop their knowledge of the sounds that letters make as they move through Reception and into Year 1.

Leaders have put in place a well-sequenced programme for teaching phonics. They identify pupils who have gaps in their knowledge or need extra help with their reading. These pupils' specific needs are addressed quickly.

Typically, staff have the expertise and knowledge to follow the phonics programme effectively. In some instances, staff's expertise in teaching early reading is still developing. This leads to occasional inconsistencies in how well the phonics programme is delivered, and some pupils lose focus on their learning.

Leaders have already identified this and are providing further training to strengthen staff's subject knowledge and, in turn, address these inconsistencies.

Teachers check that pupils have understood what is being taught. They address any gaps in pupils' understanding quickly.

Teachers work with other staff to discuss how effectively all pupils are learning. This is especially clear for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Staff identify what additional support these pupils need and how best to teach subject content.

Parents are very positive about how their children are supported. Pupils who are new to the school are quickly assessed to find out where gaps in their learning may be. Teachers help pupils to catch up quickly so that they can learn the curriculum alongside their peers.

Pupils are polite and eager to tell visitors about their work and the school. They typically behave well in class. Following the COVID-19 restrictions, leaders have provided a variety of opportunities to support pupils' emotional health.

An example includes the expertise of a professional counsellor, who has led parent workshops and staff training. Pupils' broader development is supported well, including through a range of enrichment activities and clubs. Pupils are also taught about wider society, for instance about different religions.

Visits to places of worship have been used to enhance pupils' understanding.

Staff are supportive of leaders' and governors' work to make improvements in the school. Staff feel that leaders consider their workload well.

Leaders have found innovative ways to streamline processes in the school. An example of this can be seen in the changes leaders have made to the marking policy.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff are vigilant. They fully understand that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Staff are well trained.

They are alert to any signs that pupils may be at risk of harm. Leaders ensure that staff receive regular updates to safeguarding training.

Staff act quickly, following agreed procedures, if they have any concerns about pupils' well-being.

Leaders make timely and appropriate referrals to external agencies where necessary. They ensure that pupils and their families get the help they need.

Staff teach pupils how to keep themselves safe.

This includes when pupils are working or playing online and when out in the local community.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders have chosen a systematic and well-planned approach to early reading, including phonics. Occasionally, there are inconsistencies in how early reading is taught.

Leaders are already addressing this and have put in place plans to further develop staff's knowledge of early reading. Leaders should continue this work and ensure that staff are provided with phonics training to strengthen their expertise and confidence in delivering the school's phonics programme.

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 evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, 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 deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

This is the second section 8 inspection since we judged the school to be good in February 2012.

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