Desmond Anderson Primary Academy

Overview: Desmond Anderson Primary Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection, with a strong focus on pupil well-being and achievement.

Strengths:

• The school's inclusive atmosphere, where everyone is welcome and pupils are happy to be in school.
• The provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is a significant strength, with clear support plans and adapted teaching.
• The school provides high-quality staff development, with teachers using their subject knowledge to present information clearly and model learning effectively.
• Pupils are well-prepared for life in modern Britain, learning about different religions and festivals, and important life lessons such as healthy relationships and online safety.

Areas to improve:

• Sometimes, teachers do not check what pupils know and understand carefully enough before moving them on to new learning, leading to key gaps and misconceptions not being addressed effectively.
• Aspects of the writing curriculum, including the use of grammar, punctuation, letter formation and spelling, are not taught effectively enough, leading to variable quality and accuracy of pupils' written work.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.