Flitwick Lower School

Overview

Flitwick Lower School continues to be a good school, described as a ‘hive of learning’ where pupils are happy and well cared for. The report highlights an ambitious curriculum, high staff expectations, and a strong culture of respect and community involvement. While the school maintains effective safeguarding and supports pupils with special educational needs well, specific improvements are required in early reading support and pre-school activity planning.

Strengths

• Pupils are ‘happy and well cared for’ and experience ‘very little bullying’, with staff quickly intervening to stop unkindness.
• The curriculum is ‘ambitious’, with teachers using assessment effectively to address misconceptions and secure understanding.
• Leaders have established a ‘rigorous and sequential approach’ to reading, helping weaker readers show ‘resilience and determination’.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities access the full curriculum and make ‘strong progress’ with tailored support.
• Staff feel supported by approachable leaders, ensuring workloads are manageable and directions are clear.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should review the reading programme to ensure staff have the training and resources to help pupils who find ‘blending the letter sounds challenging’ overcome difficulties more quickly.
• Leaders should provide training and high-quality resources for pre-school staff to ensure activities and resources effectively support children’s learning ahead of Reception.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training, being alert to risks, and working closely with other agencies to support pupils and families.