Springhead Park Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Since opening in September 2020, leaders have created a caring school where pupils thrive. As one parent said, 'I find the school to be friendly, welcoming, supportive and inclusive.' Pupils are happy, they show a genuine compassion for one another and form positive relationships.

They feel part of the school community. For example, they take on roles in the school, such as 'School Councillors' and 'Climate Change Champions'. These responsibilities give pupils a genuine voice in the running of the school.

Pupils feel safe at this school. They have trusted adults, who are there to listen if they have worries. Pupils behave well during breaktimes and are keen to involve... others in their play.

When bullying happens, leaders act quickly to stop this from escalating.

Staff have high ambition for pupils and they bring the curriculum to life. For example, they encourage parents and members of the local community to support learning in school.

Pupils learn about the importance of charitable giving and sportsmanship. They develop their interests and talents well. Pupils attend a wide range of clubs on offer at the school.

As a result, most pupils learn across all subjects well.

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

Leaders provide a curriculum that is relevant and interesting for pupils and guide teachers to know what and how to teach. The trust provides helpful support for subject leaders, so that they are responsive to the training needs of school staff.

Leaders provide staff with helpful training that strengthens their practice. They ensure that the workload for staff is manageable. For example, they guide staff to use resources that support their teaching.

The special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) lead is knowledgeable and helps teachers to identify the needs of pupils with SEND well. The SEND lead provides useful resources and guides staff to use effective adaptations to help pupils with SEND to succeed. However, teachers do not consistently apply these adaptations in class.

This means that some pupils with SEND struggle to learn alongside their peers in some subjects.

Teachers support pupils to build the knowledge and skills needed to succeed across a wide range of subjects. Staff in the early years provide an exciting and vibrant space for children to interact and learn.

Children show positive attitudes for learning when at play. They take turns and listen carefully to adult instruction. Staff model the vocabulary children need to enhance their play and develop their oracy well.

Teachers check what pupils know in class. For example, teachers quiz pupils at the start of lessons. This helps pupils to draw on what they have previously learned and apply this to new learning.

Teachers check what pupils know at the end of a sequence of learning. They use this information to identify what pupils know and understand. This helps teachers to adapt future learning to help pupils to overcome any gaps or misunderstandings in their knowledge.

Teachers develop pupils' reading and mathematical knowledge and skills well. Children in the early years learn phonics daily. They learn how to read simple words and how to write words that they sound out.

Teachers closely monitor pupils who have fallen behind in their reading. They provide effective support to help pupils to catch up quickly. Staff help older pupils to develop their reading fluency, so they read confidently.

Teachers select texts to read in lessons that help to develop pupils' reading comprehension well. While there have been low outcomes in national tests in mathematics at key stage 1, pupils are now catching up. Mathematics teaching is now precise.

Teachers use questioning well to help pupils to think about what they learn. As a result, pupils develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in mathematics and apply learning across subjects.

Staff provide a wide range of opportunities to nurture and stretch pupils' interests and talents.

Pupils experience trips that help to bring what they learn in class to life. For example, pupils visit local religious buildings, such as a Gurdwara, a church and a mosque. They learn about cultural differences and are respectful of one another.

This includes pupils engaging in debates during assembly time that help to broaden their understanding of fundamental British values. Staff make sure that the environment is representative of the diversity of the children within the school.

Pupils behave well in class.

When pupils misbehave, they respond to being re-directed by teachers quickly. Leaders provide useful support for families of pupils whose attendance is poor. For example, they provide places at breakfast club to help pupils to have a positive and punctual start to the school day.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders and staff use effective systems to help keep children safe. They make sure that staff and governors receive timely and helpful training.

This helps staff to identify if a pupil may be at risk of harm. When a concern is raised about a child, leaders act swiftly. They provide pupils and families with guidance and involve outside agencies when needed.

Pupils learn about current issues relating to staying safe. For example, pupils learn about the dangers of being online in computing lessons. Visiting speakers from the Police help pupils to learn about staying safe in their community.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• While leaders have provided helpful training and resources to support teachers in the adaptations needed for pupils with SEND, these are not consistently implemented in some subjects. This means that some pupils with SEND do not learn as well as they could. Leaders need to carefully check that teachers routinely implement the adaptations needed, so that pupils with SEND achieve well in all subjects.