Propps Hall Junior Infant and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils, including children in the early years, thrive at Propps Hall. They love coming to school. Staff are highly attuned to the needs of each pupil.

They foster pupils' strengths and talents extremely well. This enables pupils to develop a healthy self-belief. Pupils enjoy warm, trusting relationships with staff.

They know that staff will listen carefully to any concerns that they may have. This helps pupils to feel safe.

Pupils work incredibly hard to meet the extremely high expectations of the school.

They are enthused by their lessons and learn very well across the full curriculum. They achieve exceptionally well.

Pupils' behaviour is e...xemplary.

They treat each other with the utmost respect. Pupils display exceptional behaviour throughout the school. At lunchtimes, pupil playmakers ensure that every pupil is part of a purposeful activity.

Well-being ambassadors look after their peers' emotions with maturity and sensitivity.

Pupils can choose to take part in an amazing array of extra-curricular opportunities. From cooking to playing the harp, staff provide tailor made activities to fire pupils' interests.

The school ensures that disadvantaged pupils, in particular, benefit from this comprehensive offer.

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

The school has produced a highly inspiring and engaging curriculum. It is ambitious for all pupils.

Highly skilled staff have ordered curriculum content so that pupils continually build on their prior learning. This curriculum journey builds seamlessly from the early years. As a result, children are very well prepared for their learning in Year 1 and beyond.

This is because they are building on solid foundations.

Staff have excellent subject knowledge. They use their considerable expertise to deliver the curriculum very well through high-quality learning activities.

Pupils regularly recap what they have learned. This helps them to remember key information. In mathematics, for example, pupils have excellent recall of their times tables.

Pupils have a very well-developed understanding of subject-specific vocabulary. They can articulate a sophisticated level of knowledge about a range of subjects. In history, Year 4 pupils could clearly explain the reason behind the fall of the Roman empire.

They were able to compare and contrast the Roman era with that of the Anglo-Saxons.

Since the last inspection, the school has further refined its approach to assessment systems. Staff expertly evaluate the curriculum content that pupils know and remember.

This enables staff to accurately identify any gaps in pupils' learning. Staff use this information to precisely tailor learning that meets pupils' needs. As a result, pupils achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum.

However, this is not reflected fully in the most recent published data for the school. This is because the Year 6 pupils who left in 2024 did not have enough time to benefit from improvements to the curriculum.

The teaching of reading is a top priority.

Children in the Nursery Year engage in the retelling of traditional tales with unbridled enthusiasm. Staff across the school are well trained. They skilfully deliver the phonics programme with a high degree of consistency.

Pupils' books are precisely matched to the sounds that they know. Staff act immediately to support any pupils who may struggle with reading. Younger pupils read fluently and confidently.

They have a strong understanding of what they are reading. They are adept at using their acquired phonics knowledge to spell words accurately. Pupils throughout the school are immersed in high-quality books.

Older pupils love being read to by their teachers.

Staff are single-minded in their approach to ensuring that all pupils have no limits on their learning. The school identifies the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well.

This enables pupils with SEND to receive highly effective support. Staff receive regular expert training. This helps them to make suitable adaptations to their teaching so that pupils with SEND access the same learning as their peers.

A well-qualified pastoral team provides additional support to pupils when this is required. These supportive measures enable pupils with SEND to achieve very well.

Attendance rates at the school are high.

Learning behaviours in all classes are exemplary. Clear and consistent routines are quickly established. Children in the Nursery Year listen to their teachers with close attention.

They quickly learn the importance of resilience. Children in the early years and pupils across the rest of the school know the importance of always trying their best.

Pupils' personal development sits at the heart of this school.

All pupils are provided with exceptional opportunities to enhance their learning and broaden their horizons. They have an in-depth knowledge of other faiths and religions. Pupils learn about tolerance and diversity.

Year 6 pupils are looking forward to cooking and preparing a meal for an upcoming community event. They also spoke excitedly about their recent trip to France.

Staff are proud to work at the school.

They are highly appreciative of the range of professional development opportunities that they receive. Staff are grateful for the consideration given by governors to their well-being and workload. Governors are highly skilled.

They have a thorough understanding of the school. They use these qualities to provide insightful challenge and support to leaders.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.