Stanmore Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy their learning and make friends easily at Stanmore Primary.

It is a warm, caring school where pupils feel happy and safe.

There have been many improvements since the last inspection. The headteacher and her new leadership team have started to develop the curriculum.

Pupils achieve very well in early years and in reading, and there is good learning in some areas. However, in mathematics and other subjects, the curriculum is not planned in sufficient detail. Teachers are not always clear enough about the important knowledge they need to teach and in what order.

This means that not all pupils are learning as well as they could.

Par...ents recognise that behaviour has significantly improved. Pupils value the rewards systems and are proud to take on leadership roles.

They know how to respond should anyone say or do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, and they trust staff to resolve any worries they may have, including about bullying.

Learning is enriched by a wide range of engaging activities and visiting speakers. Pupils enjoy the recently improved music provision and the many different clubs on offer.

Parents recognise that the school is improving, enthuse about the changes and value being part of the 'Stanmore family'.

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

Leaders have reviewed the curriculum across the school. The provision in Reception class is particularly well designed and constructed and it is a strength of the school.

Across key stages 1 and 2, leaders have developed a more subject-based approach. Teachers have a better understanding of what to teach in some subjects. In early reading and personal, social and health education, strong planning, coupled with consistent delivery, ensures pupils make good progress.

In mathematics and some other subjects, the curriculum is less well developed and less consistently implemented. Leaders' curriculum planning identifies what they want pupils to know by the end of the unit. However, the details of how this knowledge is introduced and developed over time to help pupils achieve these goals are not plainly set out.

Consequently, not all teachers are clear enough about what important skills and knowledge pupils need to learn, and when.

In some subjects, planning is new and in others it is still being developed. This means that assessment is not always being used well enough by teachers to inform what needs to be taught next.

Pupils, particularly those with low prior attainment and some with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), struggle to retain and remember key information. Some subject leaders do not check accurately enough how consistently and effectively the curriculum is being taught for all groups of pupils in lessons.

The promotion of the love of reading begins as soon as children join Reception, and staff develop pupils' reading skills effectively.

Work to improve the teaching of early reading and the adoption of a new scheme for teaching phonics have clearly had a significant impact. Typically, phonics is taught well, and staff skilfully assess pupils' reading skills. Tailored support is given to any pupils who need help so that all make strong progress.

High-quality resources, coupled with engaging story times, promote a love of reading. Over time, pupils grow into fluent readers, discovering genuine pleasure from reading books.

Capable leadership of provision for pupils with SEND ensures these pupils are supported effectively.

The special educational needs coordinator ensures that their needs are carefully identified, and their progress tracked well. Teachers and teaching assistants work together using a range of effective strategies that help pupils with SEND to learn well alongside their peers.

Parents are delighted by how well the headteacher and her staff have transformed behaviour at the school.

The impressive 'Ready to Learn' provision offers highly structured, bespoke targeted support for a very small group of some of the most vulnerable pupils exhibiting challenging behaviour. Strategies developed here have helped to improve systems across the school, and pupils' behaviour and attitudes are now good.

Pupils behave well in class and are keen to learn.

Their conduct around the school is typically of a high standard. They play happily with their peers at break and lunchtimes, are considerate of others and are polite. Pupils know and value the school's rewards and routines and so any disruption during lessons is rare.

Parents were keen to praise what they described as extraordinary support from staff for their children during the periods of lockdown. They value how well staff know their child as an individual and equip them with a sense of belonging and trust. Pupils are nurtured to develop genuine respect and empathy for each other and others in the wider community.

This helps them to be prepared for their next steps in education.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Stanmore Primary offers a caring community where leaders ensure that pupils' welfare, well-being and safety are their number one priority.

Pupils feel safe and happy here and parents confirm this. The curriculum promotes learning how to keep yourself safe, including when online.

Safeguarding leaders have suitably up-to-date expertise in all aspects of safeguarding.

Appropriate checks are made on all adults who work with the children in school. Leaders maintain careful records and oversee an effective package of staff training. Staff act swiftly should any pupils require extra help, sourcing appropriate support from external agencies when necessary.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Some subject leaders do not yet have a sufficiently complete overview of their subjects from the early years to Year 6. This hinders the progress pupils can make in these subjects. Senior leaders should ensure that all curriculum leaders are well trained and supported to enable them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to be able to check how well their subject is being taught throughout the school.

• The curriculum in some subjects, including mathematics, is not sufficiently well planned and sequenced through key stages 1 and 2. This means that teachers do not plan lessons that connect sufficiently well to pupils' prior learning. Leaders should ensure that curriculum planning identifies and sequences the key components of knowledge that pupils are expected to learn across all year groups, as well as the required end points.

• In some subjects, learning activities do not always meet the needs of all pupils, particularly pupils with low prior attainment and some with SEND. Assessment systems need further refinements to identify what aspects of knowledge pupils are secure in and where they may have gaps. Better use of assessment is required to support all pupils to learn with increasing success.

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