Hertford Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The executive headteacher, ably supported by the head of school, is working effectively to bring about improvements to this small infant school. Together, they share a determination that every pupil should have the best possible school experience. Safeguarding is a strength of the school.

Leaders and staff are highly alert to pupils' needs. Leaders are tenacious in ensuring that pupils and families receive the support they need. They have rightly identified the need to deepen pupils' understanding of e-safety.

Leaders provide outstanding provision for pupils' personal development and welfare. Staff know pupils extremely well. They skilful...ly support and nurture pupils from Nursery to Year 2.

Vulnerable pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are supported effectively. Consequently, they make good progress from their starting points. Children get off to a great start in the early years because of the high-quality care and provision they receive.

This helps them settle into school quickly and happily. Overall, pupils make good progress because : they experience suitably strong teaching. However, expectations for what pupils can achieve are not consistently high in all lessons and across all subjects.

The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to learn a range of subjects. However, leaders recognise that further improvements are needed to assess and deepen pupils' skills, knowledge and understanding across subjects other than English and mathematics. This work is firmly under way.

Teachers assess pupils' work with increasing accuracy in English and mathematics. However, leaders, including governors, do not have a clear overview of this information to drive improvements incisively for all groups of pupils. Pupils behave well.

They enjoy their time together and show positive attitudes to their learning. This is an inclusive and friendly school. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school.

They feel their children are safe, well cared for and treated as individuals.

Information about this school

Hertford Infant and Nursery School is smaller than the average-sized infant school. Since the previous inspection, the school federated with the nearby Hertford Junior School on 3 July 2017 to form the Hertford Federation.

One governing body oversees both schools. The executive headteacher manages both Hertford Infant and Nursery School and Hertford Junior School. She took up this post in September 2018.

The Nursery operates three days a week. In addition to the Nursery, the school has five classes. There are two Reception classes, one Year 1 class, one mixed Year 1 and Year 2 class, and one Year 2 class.

Most pupils are from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged is broadly in line with the national average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average.

The proportion of pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan is above the national average. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is below the national average. The school runs a breakfast club and an after-school club.