Wendell Park Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Wendell Park is highly inclusive. The right of everyone to be respected and included is central to the ethos and interwoven throughout school life. Core values are promoted through the 'five C's' – caring, challenge, co-operation, confidence and celebration.

Leaders have designed an aspirational curriculum that recognises and celebrates diversity. An example of this can be seen in the wide range of books that pupils read. This work helps to support pupils' readiness for life in modern Britain.

Pupils are happy and kept safe. They said that this is because there are always teachers that they can turn to if they have any concerns. They trust adults in school to help the...m when they need it.

Pupils behave well. This is because leaders and staff have put in place clear, consistent routines. Bullying is not tolerated and it happens rarely.

When it does occur, it is dealt with swiftly.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious. In most subjects, the curriculum helps pupils to deepen their knowledge and understanding effectively.

As a result, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

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

Pupils follow a broad curriculum that matches the scope and ambition of what is expected nationally. Leaders have identified the key knowledge and vocabulary that they expect pupils to learn across all subjects from Nursery to Year 6.

The curriculum sequences knowledge in logical way, with time made to revisit and recap previous learning. This helps pupils to understand and learn more complex ideas over time. For example, in geography, children in the early years learn about how maps work through plotting the journeys they read about in stories.

This helps them in Year 1, when they learn to make simple maps of real places such as their classroom. Older pupils build on this prior knowledge successfully when using atlases and globes to identify countries and lines of latitude and longitude. Similarly, in mathematics, children in the early years gain a good grounding in number, for example they learn to count and find one more and one fewer.

This prepares them well for more-complex addition and subtraction calculations later in the school.

The curriculum in some subjects has been developed more recently by leaders. In these subjects, teachers do not check as carefully what pupils have learned.

This means that, at times, some errors and misconceptions are not identified and corrected. This can limit the development of some pupils' understanding as well as their readiness for complex work.

Leaders promote a strong reading culture in the school.

The teaching of phonics begins as soon as pupils start their Reception Year. Staff are well trained and this ensures the structured phonics programme is implemented consistently well. Regular assessment identifies those pupils at risk of falling behind.

A range of well-targeted extra support helps these pupils to catch up with their peers. Books used to teach reading are carefully matched to the sounds that pupils know. This provides opportunities for pupils to practise their phonics and, in turn, helps them to become fluent, independent readers.

As a result of leaders' work in this area, pupils across the school are enthusiastic about reading. They enjoy both reading and being read to.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are accurately identified and well supported.

Teachers and teaching assistants are knowledgeable regarding pupils' specific needs. They know the strategies needed to help these pupils access the same curriculum as their peers.

Behaviour in lessons is focused on learning.

Pupils are enthusiastic and motivated. This helps to create a calm and purposeful atmosphere around the school. Leaders have effective systems for ensuring that pupils attend school regularly.

Pupils' broader development is well considered. The curriculum is designed to help pupils develop understanding and respect for different faiths. Older pupils are proud to take on a range of responsibilities.

For example, they like being able to help others through the prefect programme, being reading buddies for younger pupils and working in the school library.

Leaders, including those responsible for governance, have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and areas for further improvement. As a result, they have identified the right areas to improve.

Staff, including those at the beginning of their careers, are overwhelmingly positive about leaders' care, and the way in which leaders consider workload and well-being. They feel valued and trusted. All staff said that they are proud to work in the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

There is a strong culture of safeguarding. All staff and those responsible for governance are well trained to identify pupils at risk of harm.

They understand their responsibilities and report any concerns that they have quickly.

Leaders know families well. They seek support and advice from the local authority and other agencies, to ensure that pupils and their families receive the support they need.

The curriculum has been designed to help pupils learn how to stay safe. For example, pupils are highly knowledgeable about potential risks that they may face when using the internet.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a few subjects, teachers do not check carefully what pupils have learned and remembered.

As a result, some of pupils' errors and misconceptions are not identified and corrected promptly. In these subjects, leaders should ensure that teachers check what pupils have learned. This will enable them to correct any misconceptions swiftly and help pupils to deepen their knowledge across all subjects.

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