Haynes Lower School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Haynes Lower School is a warm, friendly and happy school. Pupils enjoy coming to school to learn and socialise with their friends in a safe environment. They want to do well and know that their teachers have high expectations of them.

The school values are important to pupils, and they all work hard to show them. The values support pupils in behaving well throughout the school. There are strong relationships between pupils and staff.

Staff consider the feelings and experiences of all individual pupils. When a parent who is in the military goes away, the pupil can bring in a teddy bear for comfort. All pupils know this, and they work with the adults to support their fr...iends.

Bullying rarely happens. However, when it does, pupils know that the adults will resolve it.

There are lots of extra-curricular opportunities available to pupils.

The faith trips to different places of religious worship and the school trip to France support pupils' learning about different religions and cultures. Sporting competitions and clubs are regularly run. The choir sings carols in the local area, as well as taking part in larger performances.

All these activities contribute to the pupils becoming more independent and confident before they transition to their next school.

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

Leaders have constructed a curriculum through which pupils study a wide variety of subjects. In most subjects, leaders have identified precisely the important knowledge that pupils need to learn.

They have ordered this so that pupils build towards understanding more complex ideas. Teachers have good subject knowledge. They carefully choose activities that are engaging and help pupils to learn.

Throughout lessons, they regularly check on what pupils know and give them support where needed. Therefore, pupils usually progress well.

In a few subjects, leaders' curriculum thinking is less clear.

They have not identified the specific skills and knowledge pupils need to learn. As such, pupils do not make as much progress as they should.

Teachers question the pupils about the world around them.

Therefore, pupils become inquisitive and curious. For example, while on a scavenger hunt, some children in Reception found some chrysalises. They used their knowledge of caterpillars and butterflies to be able to work out what was happening.

Reading is a priority throughout the curriculum. The teaching of phonics begins in Nursery, where the pupils start to learn initial sounds. All staff have been trained in the phonics scheme.

They match the books pupils read to the sounds pupils know. Pupils learn how to decode words well and move on to read for pleasure. Leaders have provided a variety of opportunities for pupils to enjoy reading, such as visiting the school library and local library, a bedtime story evening and younger pupils reading to older pupils.

These activities contribute to pupils' love of reading and enjoyment of sharing texts. Pupils learn to read well.

The school supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well.

Staff identify pupils' needs quickly when pupils arrive at the school. Teachers adapt the curriculum as necessary to ensure that all pupils can access it equally well. This enables pupils with SEND to achieve well.

Leaders have clear structures and systems in place to ensure a calm environment. Pupils know the well-established rewards systems. They enjoy working towards achieving recognition for their positive behaviour and attitudes.

They celebrate each other's achievements, both in and out of school. This develops a supportive and nurturing environment.

Leaders prioritise pupils' well-being.

They make sure that pupils' emotional needs are well met by, for example, having talk time with a well-trained adult or taking the school dog for a walk. Older pupils act as well-being ambassadors, and they receive training to support other pupils in the playground. Pupils know that they have this support and, if they need to, they use it.

The personal development curriculum is carefully planned. Pupils know how to take care of themselves by, for example, eating the right diet and engaging in regular exercise. On Fridays, pupils work together to sell different items for a charity of their choice.

They are proud of the charities they support and how well they work together to achieve this.

Leaders support staff well. They are considerate of staff workload and ensure that this is well balanced.

Governors know the school well and have a good balance between support and challenge of leaders. As a result, the school is a positive environment in which to work.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There are clear safer recruitment and safeguarding processes in place at the school. Staff receive annual training and regular updates. This ensures that staff know how to identify if a pupil might be at risk of harm.

Governors have robust systems in place to check the effectiveness of the safeguarding policy and procedures within the school.

Pupils know how to keep themselves safe. They are aware that games and apps on the internet have associated age limits.

They know they should only use them when they are old enough. If anything worrying pops up on their computer screens, pupils speak to an adult about it. This helps them to learn how to manage their safety online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, leaders have not made clear the knowledge and skills they want pupils to learn. As a result, pupils are not all taught the key information they should learn. Leaders should ensure that they make clear to teachers specifically what pupils should learn in all subjects.

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