Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Lainesmead is a welcoming, nurturing and inclusive school and nursery. Leaders and staff work closely with parents to meet the needs of pupils in this culturally diverse community.

Staff have high expectations of pupils. The school's values, 'Strive, achieve, excel: believe in a limitless future' are central to the school's work.

The well-planned curriculum helps pupils to develop knowledge and skills in many subjects.

However, a few subjects need some further development to ensure that pupils build deeper knowledge, in readiness for the next stages of their education. Children in the early years love to find things out and keenly explore the exciting activit...ies adults provide.

Pupils are wonderful ambassadors.

They are thoughtful, polite and kind. They concentrate hard because they are keen to learn. Their behaviour, in and out of lessons, is exemplary.

Staff go above and beyond to support pupils' well-being. They form kind and caring relationships with pupils. Pupils respect adults and trust them to keep them safe.

Pupils say bullying is rare. They are confident that adults sort out any problems.

Pupils are happy at school.

The impressive opportunities on offer spark pupils' interest. For example, pupils like to attend the performing arts, gardening and cookery clubs.

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

The school is well led by ambitious and enthusiastic leaders.

They inspire staff to design and teach an exciting curriculum. Governors are effective in holding leaders to account and have a good understanding of the school.

Leaders and staff are acutely aware of the impact of the pandemic.

They work effectively to help pupils attend regularly and catch up on missed learning. Staff prioritise the development of pupils' communication and language. This is particularly important for pupils with English as an additional language (EAL).

This work is having a positive impact.

Pastoral support is outstanding. Leaders are adept in identifying issues that affect pupils' learning.

They intervene sensitively to help pupils understand and manage their emotions. This means learning is not disrupted. Pupils appreciate going to the 'Burrow' or 'Tranquillity Garden' to talk about their feelings.

They say that mindfulness helps them to become calm.

Leaders are knowledgeable about their subjects. In several subjects, particularly reading, writing and mathematics, leaders have designed the curriculum well.

This helps pupils to develop secure knowledge over time. The early years curriculum is effectively organised to develop the children's essential early knowledge.

Leaders and teachers regularly assess how well pupils are developing their knowledge.

This enables staff to adapt teaching when pupils need to deepen their learning. However, in some subjects such as design technology, computing and history, sequences of learning do not focus sharply enough on the key knowledge all pupils must know. As a result, assessment lacks the precision needed to ensure that pupils know more and remember more of the most important knowledge.

Adults provide well-targeted support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and for pupils with EAL. This is having a positive impact. Some typical comments from parents include, 'The school has been amazing' and 'The school has really met my child's needs.'



There is a strong reading culture at the school. Pupils choose from a wide variety of books, which inspires them read. Pupils get off to a flying start in reading and begin learning to read as soon as they start school.

Pupils read regularly, which improves their confidence, fluency and vocabulary. Pupils write regularly. For example, children in the early years use their knowledge of phonics to write about a treasure hunt.

The teaching of reading builds and secures pupils' wider reading skills, such as inference and comprehension. Pupils become absorbed when listening to stories adults read to them, such as 'The Accidental Prime Minister'.

Pupils deepen their knowledge and practise their skills consistently well in mathematics.

For example, children in the early years recognise and name 2D shapes when making rockets. Year 3 pupils apply what they know to subtract fractions. Year 5 pupils add and subtract decimals.

Pupils enjoy art. Children in nursery roll marbles in paint to create pictures of planets. Older pupils practise and refine their skills in line drawing.

Pupils are proud to see their work displayed in school.

Pupils' personal development is supported exceptionally well. Adults thoughtfully plan interesting experiences to enhance the curriculum.

For example, pupils can try ballet, sewing and ice hockey. They enjoy singing and are looking forward to the Jubilee celebrations. Pupils learn about democracy when they vote to make decisions.

Pupils proudly take on positions of responsibility such as prefects and school parliament members.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong safeguarding culture at the school.

Leaders prioritise pupils' safety. Staff are given safeguarding training that helps them to recognise when a pupil might be at risk. Staff act quickly to refer concerns, when required.

Leaders seek help from external agencies when pupils need specialist support. Leaders maintain thorough records and regularly review these.

The curriculum supports pupils to keep themselves safe.

For example, pupils learn about safe relationships and online safety. The fire service visits the school to teach pupils about fire safety.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The curriculum is not designed well in some foundation subjects.

The key building blocks of knowledge pupils must learn and by when have not been identified. Consequently, pupils do not build deep knowledge in all subjects. Leaders must design a curriculum and develop sequences of learning that help pupils to know more and remember more in all subjects.