Sinclair Primary and Nursery School - Part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils strive to live the school motto of 'architects of a better world' in this highly inclusive school. This motto is clear to see in all areas of the school.

Pupils benefit from the ambition that the school has for what they will achieve. Pupils enjoy learning new things and asking questions about what they are being taught. They do not give up when they learn new things.

As such, they constantly strive to achieve well and do so.

The school is a happy place to be. Pupils have warm and mutually respectful relationships with everyone in the school.

They consistently show consideration towards each other and there is a calmness in the school. Social ...times are joyous because pupils love being together. They enjoy helping each other successfully take part in the various activities provided for them and pupils appreciate the fact that staff ensure they are safe while also joining in the activities.

Pupils benefit from the wide range of leadership opportunities they are provided with. Whether as e-cadets, reading ambassadors or play leaders, pupils learn to be responsible and empathetic members of their community, who care deeply about their school. This is evident in how they actively encourage each other to be the best they can be.

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

There is high ambition for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), disadvantaged pupils and pupils who speak English as an additional language. The school's well-sequenced curriculum sets out the small steps of knowledge that pupils need to learn in each year group and in what order. The curriculum has been enhanced by the strong collaboration that takes place across all six learning federation partnership schools.

The school prepares pupils well for their next steps in learning at each key stage. Consequently, pupils achieve well, including pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils.

Teachers have strong subject knowledge, which is enhanced through accessing the wealth of expertise available across the learning federation partnership schools.

Staff make precise adaptations for pupils with SEND and, as a result, these pupils achieve well. In most subjects, staff use assessment effectively to check pupils' understanding in lessons and quickly address their mistakes or misunderstandings. This is strongest in reading, writing and mathematics.

However, in a small number of subjects teachers' assessment strategies do not always ensure that pupils remember previously taught knowledge and connect it with new learning. As a result, pupils do not achieve as well as they could in these subjects.

The teaching of reading is a real strength in the school.

This starts in Reception, where children receive expert support to develop their reading. Staff closely follow the phonics curriculum written by partnership leaders. The curriculum provides highly effective support for pupils who need more practise.

Pupils read books that contain the sounds they have learned to develop their fluency. The school provides useful fortnightly workshops for parents to demonstrate how to support their child to read at home. Staff foster a love of stories by talking about the books they love and reading books aloud with enthusiasm and passion.

They demonstrate how pupils can use varied language to write about the stories they hear. Consequently, pupils develop into confident readers and fluent writers.

Behaviour is exceptional.

The school teaches pupils about positive behaviour through all aspects of school life. Teachers in Reception embed routines and rules for children from the time they start. Staff use characters such as 'Lucy Learning' to remind pupils how to be a good learner.

As a result, from the youngest age, pupils show positive attitudes to learning and excellent conduct.

The school provide very effective support for pupils' personal development. A strong culture of respect runs through the school.

An extensive and carefully planned range of trips and visitors support the planned curriculum and broaden pupils' understanding of the world around them. Pupils contribute within and beyond the school, for example, by fundraising for the school, and for a range of local charities selected by pupils.

The strength in leadership across the school and wider partnership is highly evident.

The same passion and determination are shared by all staff, who want the very best for pupils at the school. Staff enjoy being part of the 'Sinclair family', enthuse about their many professional development opportunities and truly appreciate being an integral part in driving their own development.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teachers do not always use assessment well enough. Where this is the case, some pupils do not remember what they have learned before in sufficient detail. The school must ensure that teachers in all subjects assess what pupils know equally effectively.