Sythwood Primary and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school Pupils like coming to school. They learn well because lessons are interesting and the teaching is good. The youngest children settle very quickly into the Nursery and Reception classes and they get a good start to their education.

Pupils make good progress and achieve well. If any group is at risk of falling behind, the school takes swift action to deal with this. Adults manage pupils' behaviour very skilfully and pupils learn to behave well in lessons and around school.

They are polite, friendly and show respect for each other and for adults. The leadership team and the governors know their school well and are determined to see that it i...mproves further. It is a genuinely inclusive school where all pupils have the opportunity to succeed.

Visually impaired pupils are exceptionally well integrated into school life. Different groups of pupils, including those for whom the school receives additional funding through the pupil premium, generally make similar progress. The highly effective partnership between the school and the children's centre forges good links with parents and carers and strongly promotes pupils' well-being.

Pupils are encouraged to be physically active and have many opportunities to take part in games and sporting activities. It is not yet an outstanding school because: Not all marking is good enough at giving pupils' feedback and setting them new challenges. Pupils are not consistently given the time to respond to teachers' marking and feedback.

The work of the school's subject leaders is not focused sharply enough on increasing the rate at which pupils make progress.

Information about this school

This is a larger-than-average size primary school with a nursery. The school has specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs for 12 visually impaired pupils.

The school shares a site with a children's centre but that organisation is subject to a separate inspection. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs supported through school action is above average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is also above average.

The school runs a breakfast and after-school club. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium funding is above the national average. This is additional money provided for looked after children and pupils known to be eligible for free school meals.

Over half the pupils are from minority ethnic groups, mainly of Pakistani origin. The proportion who speak English as an additional language is above average. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress.

There have been changes to the leadership team since the previous inspection and the deputy headteacher joined the school in September 2013. The school has also had an extensive building programme over the last three years. The school is in the process of converting to an academy.

Also at this postcode