Brunswick Park Primary and Nursery School

Overview

Leaders nurture a strong sense of community, creating a ‘family’ atmosphere where children have a “happy and successful time.” The school delivers a well-sequenced curriculum with high expectations, resulting in pupils who are enthusiastic about learning and well prepared for future stages of education.

Strengths

• Leaders have structured a “well-sequenced curriculum” that matches the breadth of the national curriculum, with subject leaders identifying key content for pupils to learn.
• Pupils benefit from taking on responsibilities, such as acting as pupil librarians or running lunchtime clubs, which fosters independence and community spirit.
• Staff use questioning to extend pupils’ thinking skilfully and encourage the use of “more sophisticated vocabulary,” making clear links between subjects.
• Leaders have introduced a new scheme for teaching early reading, ensuring staff use resources effectively so pupils develop reading fluency and receive targeted support if needed.
• The personal, social and health education programme promotes pupils’ “growing independence, decision-making skills and confidence,” integrating values like well-being and kindness.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure that teachers’ planning and delivery of the curriculum prioritise pupils’ learning of the intended subject content, as occasional delivery does not enable pupils to learn key knowledge as well as intended.
• Leaders should continue work to ensure that checks on pupils’ learning are routinely effective at identifying and addressing gaps in pupils’ recall of key subject content.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff being alert to the “least sign that a child might be at risk from harm” and communicating closely with outside agencies.