Springfield Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Positive relationships flourish at Springfield Primary School. Pupils are polite, friendly and show respect towards one another.

Pupils attend well. They are valued, listened to, and seen as individuals. The positive relationships between adults and pupils mean that pupils behave well.

Pupils enjoy learning in a calm and orderly environment.

Pupils are kept safe, and adults teach them to stay safe when they are outside school. Older pupils know the risks they face when online, and the steps they can take to stay safe.

Bullying is very rare. Pupils have faith that adults will help them if they have a problem. If a pupil shares a worry with an adult, t...hey know that it will be taken seriously and sorted out.

Pupils have many opportunities to take part in activities outside lessons. Many clubs are on offer, including for drama, street dance, ballet, science and art. Pupils' physical and mental health is given a high priority.

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

Leaders have clearly designed a curriculum that lays out the important knowledge pupils need to learn. Adults provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They make careful adaptions to activities where these are needed.

This is because adults are well trained to meet pupils' needs.

Teachers have strong knowledge of the subjects they teach. Pupils remember a great deal about what they have learned.

This is because teachers explain concepts and ideas clearly. They provide pupils with suitable activities that help pupils to regularly practise the new information they have been taught.

Children begin to learn to read from starting in Reception.

Adults skilfully teach reading and provide help for pupils who find reading more difficult. As they become older, pupils develop a real love of books. They are excited to receive a book from the school's book-vending machine.

The carefully designed reading curriculum is taught well. Pupils become confident, accurate and fluent readers.

In a few subjects, pupils are not developing their knowledge and understanding as well as they could.

This is because the curriculum in those subjects is still relatively new and in the early stages of implementation. Pupils have not secured the depth of knowledge they need.

Pupils behave extremely well in and around the school.

Lessons are rarely disturbed.This is because senior leaders have created a culture of high expectations, and pupils live up to these expectations.

Leaders prepare pupils to be responsible citizens.

Pupils know about the differences between themselves and others. They are clear that everyone should be treated equally no matter their background, culture or beliefs. The recent work by the school parliament to install 'pavement buddies' to prevent drivers parking their cars outside the school has helped make crossing the road safer for pupils.

Children in Reception learn the knowledge and skills they need. They are ready to move to Year 1. Adults provide opportunities to help them learn and practise new vocabulary.

They help children explain to other people how they feel. Children's social and emotional needs are well met.

Until very recently, the headteacher and deputy headteacher have directly led many aspects of the school.

They have not been able to provide opportunities for other staff to take on additional leadership responsibility. Along with trust leaders, they have now put in place comprehensive programme of training. This is helping teachers who are new to leading, for example by being responsible for a curriculum subject.

School leaders, trust leaders and the members of the local governing body work well together. They have a shared and accurate view of the strengths of the school and what needs to improve. The local governing body does not stand still.

It regularly reflects on its own practice. Where they find areas to improve, governors look at ways to recruit new governors with the skills they need.

Teachers enjoy working at Springfield Primary School.

They are part of a supportive team and value the training they receive from senior leaders and the trust. Teachers new to the profession are very well supported.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Keeping pupils safe is at the centre of everything adults do in school. They are well trained and vigilant, and act quickly if they have a concern. Leaders follow up concerns quickly.

They provide support to pupils and their families if needed, and appropriately involve external agencies.

Adults know the risks that pupils face in the local area. Adults teach pupils how to minimise these risks as they grow older.

Governors regularly check that leaders are doing all they can to keep pupils safe. Leaders have created a strong culture of safeguarding.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, pupils do not develop the same depth of knowledge and understanding as they do in most other subjects.

Leaders should ensure that they support teachers to fully implement and teach the curriculum to ensure that pupils develop the detailed knowledge they need in order to do well. ? Senior and trust leaders should ensure that they continue to provide the necessary training and support for new leaders. This is so that these new leaders can carry out their roles effectively to sustain and further improve the quality of education pupils receive.

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