Springcroft Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Positive relationships lie at the heart of Springcroft Primary. Leaders, staff and supportive parents work together to get the best for pupils. This partnership working helps pupils to thrive.

Parents are proud of the school.

Leaders are ambitious for the school community. They have created a kind, caring culture, and have a firm belief that all pupils can achieve their best.

These values and aims are at the heart of every decision they make.

From the early years onwards, pupils' attitudes to learning are positive. They behave well, both in classrooms and outside.

Pupils are considerate towards one another. Bullying is rare. If any incidents... occur, staff act quickly to resolve the issues.

Pupils feel safe at school and attend regularly. They describe their school as 'brilliant, kind and understanding'.

Personal development is a strength of the school.

Pupils, staff and parents can access well-being support through the school's bespoke 'Helping our pupils' emotion' (HOPE) project. All pupils have opportunities to develop their interests and talents through activities such as school clubs and musical instrumental lessons. Leaders develop pupils' wider skills, for example by giving them responsible roles such as well-being leaders for younger pupils.

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

Leaders and governors have high aspirations for staff and pupils. They work well as a team, offering support and challenge to each other. They have developed a broad and rich curriculum, which is ambitious for all pupils.

Subject leaders have a clear understanding of what is working well in their subjects. They have thought carefully about what pupils will learn and when. From the early years through to Year 6, leaders have planned opportunities to revisit key concepts.

For example, in art and design, when pupils explore collage, they apply their knowledge of techniques used by artists such as Picasso. This prompts them to use and embed what they have learned before, and to make connections with new learning. It also ensures that pupils' knowledge and skills build over time.

Leaders provide staff with regular training, so they know how to teach different subjects effectively. As a result, staff are confident in delivering the curriculum across a range of subjects.

Children in the Reception Year begin to learn phonics as soon as they start school.

Leaders make sure that any children who struggle with letter sounds get extra help to catch up. Staff are well trained in teaching phonics and follow a consistent approach. This supports everyone in the early years and key stage 1 to achieve well with reading.

Most older pupils read confidently. They enjoy reading a wide range of books and use the school library regularly. Teachers help them to select and read engaging texts.

This allows pupils to broaden their knowledge across the wider curriculum and provides them with the right amount of challenge. Teachers use assessment well. They keep a close watch on progress and give extra support to any pupils who need to build greater fluency.

Teachers' assessment in mathematics also provides helpful feedback and identifies any gaps in pupils' learning. This helps teachers to plan future lessons that enable pupils to make progress. In some subjects, however, assessment procedures are not as well developed.

This makes it difficult for teachers to check what pupils know and have remembered. Although most pupils achieve well overall, this affects how well some progress through the curriculum.

Leaders have high ambitions for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

When necessary, teachers adapt lessons so these pupils can access the same curriculum as their peers, at the same time. Well-trained teaching assistants provide effective support in class when needed. However, adults also successfully encourage pupils to work on their own or with others.

This helps them to build independence.

Pupils have a growing understanding of fundamental British values, but this is not secure. Staff teach and promote these values but have not been wholly successful in ensuring that pupils understand how these apply in life.

For example, pupils do not yet recognise the link between voting for the school council and democracy. However, pupils speak confidently about respecting others and recognise everyone as equal. Right from the start in early years, staff support children to have positive attitudes to school.

This means that lessons are calm and purposeful.

Staff say that leaders are mindful of their workload and well-being. They feel well supported and are proud to work at the school.

Staff morale is high. All agree that the school is well led and managed.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding across the school. Staff are trained to identify signs of abuse and other risks of harm. They report any concerns they have about a pupil's welfare.

In turn, leaders are quick to ensure these are followed up properly. Leaders work well with outside professionals, including the police and social services. The school's pastoral team goes over and above to provide additional support for pupils and their families.

Staff teach pupils how to keep themselves safe. This includes staying safe online and understanding what safe and healthy relationships look like.

Leaders complete the correct checks on adults in school.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, teachers do not check well enough how successfully pupils have learned and retained knowledge. This means that some pupils do not make as much progress as they could. Leaders should ensure that they strengthen assessment in some foundation subjects, so that it assists teachers in identifying next steps for pupils.

• Pupils' understanding of fundamental British values is not secure. This means that pupils are unable to recognise how these values apply to life in modern Britain. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is further refined to deepen pupils' understanding of fundamental British Values.

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