Thameside Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy school. They learn in a calm and caring environment. Relationships in school are very positive.

Pupils appreciate the free time they have together at breaks to talk and be together. Pupils like their friends and are clear how to be a good friend in return. They understand that being kind, trustworthy and reliable is very important in their school.

They are happy and proud to be part of the Thameside community.

Pupils listen carefully to each other and their teachers. They want to do well.

The school has high expectations for all pupils' achievement. So, pupils work hard and try their best.

Pupils understand the differences betwe...en them.

They know it is important to respect 'everyone, everywhere, every time'.

Pupils behave well. They know the rules are to be 'ready to learn, be respectful to others and act safely'.

They understand that bullying happens but also know the adults in school are there to help and mange it when it does. Pupils feel safe in school. They take pride in the many rewards they receive for good behaviour, work and attendance.

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

The school has an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum. All pupils, including those new to learning English and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learn the curriculum. Staff teach important knowledge in the right order.

They check to ensure pupils remember their learning. They repeat learning if pupils do not recall important information. They teach new vocabulary carefully and expect pupils to use it in lessons.

At times, approaches are less consistent. Staff do not pick up on important errors that pupils make. They do not provide appropriate activities that support pupils to learn the curriculum.

On these few occasions, pupils do not make the progress they could.

Published outcomes in 2023 do not reflect the overall impact of the curriculum on pupils' learning. In part, this is because many pupils join the school mid-year or in older year groups so do not benefit fully from the curriculum on offer.

However, once pupils join the school they make secure progress from their different starting points.

Children begin learning to read as soon as they start school in Nursery. They listen carefully to different sounds.

Children learn rhymes and songs. They further develop their language skills in Reception. Children are very attentive in reading lessons.

Staff check regularly to ensure pupils have remembered what they are taught. They provide extra support and practice for children who need help to keep up. Children grow in confidence as readers and writers.

Children receive a positive start to their education in the early years. Staff have high expectations of them from the beginning. Children respond to this and behave well.

They develop positive relationships with others and learn to concentrate, take turns and join in with whole-class learning. They learn how to count and become confident when using numbers. They develop resilience and perseverance.

Children are well prepared for Year 1.

All staff have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. They take time to listen to and understand their pupils.

Pupils learn in well organised and orderly classrooms. The school prioritises pupils' attendance. Staff analyse information and work with families to ensure that pupils come into school regularly.

The provision for pupils with SEND is a strength of the school. The school works tirelessly to ensure that all pupils' needs are met. It works effectively with parents, carers and staff to identify pupils' needs.

Leaders have developed a very wide range of support for all pupils. Leaders regularly review support and adapt it if they need to. As a result, pupils with SEND learn well and are very happy in school.

The school prioritises pupils' personal development. There is a wide range of sporting opportunities on offer for pupils. Pupils have the chance to be part of teams who excel and win competitions.

They learn about a range of religions and culture. Pupils develop mature attitudes to responsibility and roles. They love being ambassadors for parts of school life.

They learn about a range of relationships and people. Pupils contribute well to their school and community.

The trust and school leaders work effectively together to establish important aims and ambitions.

They know the school well. They monitor the progress towards priorities and provide expertise and resources to support staff workload and well-being. As a result, staff feel appreciated and supported.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school does not yet implement all aspects of the curriculum consistently well. Sometimes staff do not correct pupils' important misconceptions.

On occasion, they do not provide the best work that helps pupils to remember key knowledge. As a result, pupils do not learn as well as they could at these times. The school must ensure that the curriculum is consistently implemented so that all pupils in all lessons make the progress they are capable of.