Dean Field Community Primary School

Overview

Dean Field Community Primary School is described as a place where “pupils are at the heart of everything that leaders and staff do,” with parents feeling the school has been “transformed.” The report states that pupils are happy, bullying is rare, and staff are “incredibly supportive and nurturing.” Overall effectiveness and all key judgement areas are rated as Good.

Strengths

• The curriculum in English and mathematics is “well-planned,” ensuring pupils “build their knowledge over time.”
• Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a “strength,” with skilled staff providing “carefully considered plans” to support independence.
• Reading is given priority, with pupils learning to read with “fluency and accuracy” using books that “accurately match the sounds they are learning.”
• Children in the early years “get off to a good start,” engaging in activities that “capture their imaginations.”
• Staff feel “well supported by leaders” and value opportunities to collaborate with a partner school, which helps reduce workload.

Areas to improve

• Leaders have not “precisely defined the most important knowledge” in some foundation subjects, leading to gaps in pupils’ understanding.
• Assessment in subjects such as art and geography is “not fully developed,” meaning gaps in knowledge are not always identified quickly.
• Some older pupils use homophobic language and do not understand why it is unacceptable; leaders must further develop pupils’ understanding of protected groups.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” underpinned by a “positive safeguarding culture” where leaders respond quickly to concerns and work with external partners to keep vulnerable pupils safe.