Foresters Primary School

Overview

Pupils enjoy learning at Foresters Primary School, developing trusting relationships with staff that help them feel happy and secure. The school is described as highly inclusive, with an ambitious curriculum and secure subject knowledge among teachers. Leaders maintain high expectations for academic achievement and behaviour, resulting in a positive environment where bullying is rare.

Strengths

• Pupils develop strong social and emotional skills, learning to share, take turns, and negotiate, while SEND pupils are welcomed and settle quickly.
• Teachers present ideas clearly, check for understanding, and quickly address misconceptions, ensuring pupils build knowledge step by step.
• Reading is prioritised with well-trained staff delivering phonics; progress is checked regularly, and pupils are given books matching their known sounds.
• The school fosters personal development by teaching pupils to stay safe, respect others’ beliefs, and celebrate diverse cultural and religious festivals.
• Staff enjoy working in the school, appreciating leaders’ support for well-being and consideration of workload.

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, teachers sometimes select activities that do not match the curriculum set out by leaders, causing pupils to develop gaps in their knowledge.
• Too many pupils do not attend regularly, missing lessons and falling behind; leaders need to tackle poor attendance with greater urgency.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff receive regular training and are alert to signs that a pupil may be at risk.