Chestnut Lane School

Overview

Pupils enjoy attending this “happy school” where they feel “safe and secure” within a culture of kindness and respect. The inspection highlights an “ambitious” curriculum that builds carefully from the early years, supported by staff who are “proud to work here” and whose well-being is carefully considered by leaders.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “excellent learning behaviours,” listening carefully to teachers and showing “kindness and consideration” towards each other.
• The early years provision is “outstanding,” with a strong focus on developing communication skills and an “effective programme for teaching phonics.”
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities “achieve well” due to accurate identification of needs and “well-considered adaptations” to the curriculum.
• Personal development is enriched by an “expansive” curriculum, including trips, visitors, and garden-based learning about food and nature.
• Staff workload is “carefully considered,” and governors provide a “clear, strategic vision” with balanced challenge and support.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects where the curriculum is new, implementation does not consistently support pupils to “know more and remember more,” occasionally slowing learning. The school should develop teachers’ pedagogical understanding to deliver the curriculum as intended.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”