Thames View Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy coming to school.

They said that leaders and staff have helped the school to get better and better. The school's motto, 'Striving for excellence', reflects this.

Leaders expect all pupils to achieve well.

Leaders make their high expectations clear to both pupils and staff. In most subjects, this has helped to improve pupils' learning considerably. Pupils respond well to these high expectations and work hard.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. This includes pupils who attend the additional resourced provision. Staff adapt tasks and resources to help pupils with SEND to learn successfully a...longside their peers.

Pupils behave well, both in lessons and at breaktimes. Leaders have improved the activities that are available for pupils in the playground. Playtimes are fun and well organised.

Pupils enjoy the wide range of games on offer and get along well with each other. Pupils are taught about bullying and unkind behaviour. They said that bullying sometimes happens.

However, staff deal with issues quickly. Pupils said that they talk to teachers or use the worry boxes if they feel unhappy.

Pupils like being given responsibilities as school councillors and play leaders.

They are proud to take an active role in supporting each other, both in the playground and in the classroom.

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

Leaders have designed a curriculum that is broad and well sequenced. They routinely adapt and further improve curriculum plans.

Leaders make sure that learning builds on what pupils already know and prepares them for what they need to learn next. Leaders' effective curriculum planning enables pupils to make links between the knowledge they study in different subjects. This allows pupils to deepen their understanding and gives them a rich curriculum experience.

Staff and leaders use assessment effectively. They find out where gaps in pupils' understanding are. This approach has been particularly helpful following the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leaders quickly identified that some pupils' understanding of important concepts was not fully secure, for example in mathematics. Leaders have adapted planning to ensure that these gaps are swiftly addressed.

Staff assess pupils' phonics knowledge regularly.

They know which pupils need additional help to be able to read confidently. Through the well-planned phonics programme, teaching focuses on building up pupils' knowledge of letters and sounds, based on their needs and starting points. The books pupils use to practise reading are well matched to their phonic knowledge.

Pupils quickly gain the knowledge and skills they need to become confident and fluent readers. Staff also help to develop a love of stories and books through shared reading times. However, some pupils who find reading challenging do not enjoy reading at home.

Leaders and staff are working with families, for instance by running workshops, to help develop pupils' enthusiasm for reading.

Staff are skilled in adapting teaching and resources for pupils with SEND. These pupils access the same subject content as their peers, but with additional, well-planned support.

Pupils spoke enthusiastically about their work in all subjects. In history, for example, pupils can remember and connect significant dates and events from the historical periods that they have studied. However, in a small number of subjects the planned programmes of learning are not as well developed.

Curriculum plans do not map out the steps that pupils need to take in order to extend and deepen their learning over time.

The provision for pupils' personal development is shaped by the school's values. These values, such as perseverance and compassion, are woven through lessons and assemblies.

Pupils aim to put these values into practice. For example, they behave well and try hard in lessons. They are also keen to help others by organising fundraising events for charities.

Pupils also learn about their rights and responsibilities, both in school and beyond, for instance through learning about democracy and respecting others' views.

Leaders have reviewed their systems for managing pupils' absence. This has resulted in a noticeable improvement in pupils' attendance.

Leaders continue to work on strengthening how they communicate with families. Many parents and carers commented on leaders' positive work to improve the school. That said, some parents would like clearer communication from leaders about the improvements that have been made.

Staff have benefited from training to improve their expertise in leading and teaching the curriculum. There have been many changes in the school over recent years. Staff are typically very supportive of leaders' work to improve the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates, for example through weekly briefings. This ensures that they can identify possible signs of abuse or harm.

Staff report any concerns quickly. Safeguarding leaders follow the latest government guidance when recruiting staff or dealing with any safeguarding concerns.

Leaders work closely with external agencies.

They seek out effective ways to support pupils. Leaders arrange for external organisations to speak with pupils about how they can stay safe in and out of school.Pupils said that they feel safe.

They know how to keep themselves safe, including online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not defined precisely the knowledge that they want pupils to learn. As a result, teaching is not focused sharply on the essential knowledge that leaders expect pupils to know and remember.

Leaders should refine curriculum plans in these subjects. They should make sure that teachers know exactly what knowledge is most essential for pupils to learn and remember in the long term. ? Strengthening communication with families is a key priority for leaders.

Although much has been done, some parents feel it could be better. Leaders should continue to develop ways of building strong relationships with families. This includes making sure that expectations for the curriculum and pupils' learning are shared consistently and that parents know how they might support the school's work.

Also at this postcode