Hillside Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is an inclusive and welcoming school. Pupils are respectful and caring towards each other.

The school is aspirational for pupils. The school encourages pupils to work hard and celebrates their achievements. Many pupils achieve well and proudly wear their reading badges.

Some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from access to the school's specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND (specially resourced provision) and The Nest. These provide quieter spaces where pupils with the most complex needs can receive tailored learning.Trained staff and specially trained pupil well-being ambassadors contribute to pupils feeling hap...py and safe.

They help pupils ease any anxieties and teach them how to manage their feelings. Pupils understand the school's rules and adhere to these high expectations. Pupils cooperate and behave well.

They delight in working together in mixed-age team events such as 'Olympic day'. Pupils are polite and courteous. They sensibly take on leadership roles such as team captain and prefect.

A range of sports clubs widens pupils' interests and talents. They proudly represent their school in inter-school sports competitions. Trips and visits enrich pupils' academic learning and broaden their horizons.

Pupils develop a strong sense of belonging in the community through visits to local places such as the library and participating in litter-picking events.

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

The school's curriculum is broad and ambitious. It sets out the key knowledge pupils will learn as they progress through the school.

Pupils learn new knowledge well because the curriculum builds on what they have already learned. Teachers present information clearly in lessons. They check pupils' understanding before introducing new learning.

This helps pupils keep up and allows teachers to identify any learning gaps so the school can provide extra help or practice.Reading is a high priority. Pupils enjoy the class novels they read daily and can recall the story in detail.

Carefully chosen books help pupils discuss social and moral dilemmas. Pupils like borrowing books from the school and local community library. This helps develop their own reading preferences and, in turn, a love of reading.

In Nursery, children learn rhymes and songs. This prepares them well for the next stage in reading when they begin to learn a few carefully chosen sounds. Pupils read books matched to sounds they already know, which allows pupils to consolidate their learning.

Frequent reading at school and home ensures pupils become confident, fluent readers.Pupils with SEND are fully involved in all in aspects of school life, including performances, residential trips and visits. Teaching in small groups benefits pupils with education, health and care plans.

This helps them to concentrate with limited distraction. But, for some pupils with SEND, support plans are not always precisely followed. This means there are times when some pupils cannot move forward with their learning without extra adult support.

This is because teaching is not adapted well enough to meet their needs in the class.Children in early years enjoy a variety of activities outdoors. These encourage imaginative play and develop children's physical skills and coordination.

Children explore mathematical learning such as filling and emptying containers. In some areas of the provision, the materials available have been significantly reduced. This hinders children's learning across the breadth of the intended curriculum.

In these areas, teachers have not taught all children how to use the materials, which leaves their learning more to chance. Some children find it hard to focus during group activities. This is because tasks are too complicated or the learning is not clear enough.

Pupils' behaviour is calm and positive. The school's inclusive environment helps most pupils attend well. Staff check attendance rates and quickly identify when pupils' low attendance becomes persistent and take steps to improve it.

The school promotes pupils' personal development through all aspects of the curriculum. Pupils learn to keep safe online and recognise the risks to their well-being. Cultural days help pupils understand that everyone is unique, with different faiths and beliefs.

Pupils develop a strong moral understanding. Residential trips help develop pupils' independence and confidence. Pupils access a range of clubs.

These widen their interests and develop new talents such as archery and golf.The school has prioritised staff training to ensure that pupils with the most complex needs are supported well. The school is mindful of staff well-being.

Changes to assessment systems have reduced workload. Governors are well informed and know the school well. This helps them in supporting and challenging the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

• There are instances where teachers do not make sufficient adaptations to learning for some pupils with SEND. This means some pupils struggle to complete tasks without adult support and cannot participate in learning with their peers.

The school should ensure teachers are provided with the support they need to help them make appropriate adaptations within lessons, ensuring that tailored plans are followed precisely so that all pupils are supported to achieve the aims and ambitions of the curriculum. ? Teaching in the early years is not precise enough. Learning is not adapted to meet the needs of all children consistently well.

The learning environment and resources provided do not promote learning consistently well across all areas of the curriculum. This means children do not form the strong foundations and learning behaviours they need for more complex learning later. The school should ensure that teaching for all children is well considered, and staff have the subject knowledge to create an effective learning environment that meets the intent of their ambitious curriculum.