Clipstone Brook Lower School

Overview

Clipstone Brook Lower School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. Pupils enjoy attending the school, where kindness is central to values and conduct is guided by the principles of being ‘Ready, Respectful, Safe’. The report confirms that the school remains a ‘very safe place to be’, with staff and pupils looking out for one another.

Strengths

• The curriculum is carefully developed with logical progression, ensuring knowledge is ‘revisited and embedded’ so pupils’ understanding builds securely.
• Staff provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enabling them to achieve well in relation to their starting points.
• Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and adapt teaching effectively, helping pupils develop ‘increasingly secure knowledge’ and address misconceptions promptly.
• Early years children are ‘happy and settled’, showing curiosity through purposeful activities, and are well-prepared for Year 1 by the end of Reception.
• The school maintains a sharp focus on phonics and reading, providing swift extra help to ensure pupils develop confidence and fluency.

Areas to improve

• The school lacks the same sharp focus on early writing as it does on reading, leading to gaps in fundamental knowledge such as spelling.
• Staff need to check more rigorously that pupils progress through the early writing curriculum as intended and ensure they have the expertise to deliver it consistently effectively.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.