Damers First School

Overview

Damers First School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes an inclusive environment where pupils are happy, well looked after, and enthusiastic about their learning. Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils well for their next stage.

Strengths

• The school’s vision of being ‘brave, unique, caring and kind’ creates a happy atmosphere with high attendance and warm staff-pupil relationships.
• Staff have high expectations, and pupils behave well, showing respect and securing knowledge successfully through clear teaching and effective questioning.
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced, with a focus on sustainability and community, allowing pupils to build on prior learning and make a positive impact.
• Reading is prioritised with expert phonics teaching, and pupils enjoy using the ‘heart space’ library to become fluent readers.
• Pupils benefit from enhanced curriculum opportunities, such as museum trips, and active citizenship roles like the school council.

Areas to improve

• Checks on pupil learning do not always accurately identify gaps in knowledge, such as letter formation, meaning some pupils are less prepared for future learning.
• Some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) do not consistently benefit from precise support in learning plans, hindering their progress through the curriculum.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.