Hartford Manor Primary School & Nursery

Overview

The report describes a school where pupils are “happy, polite and very welcoming” and feel “safe and well cared for.” Leaders have established a calm culture with high expectations for behaviour and achievement, resulting in a “Good” overall effectiveness rating. However, the early years provision “Requires improvement” because the curriculum does not yet provide a firm foundation for all areas of learning.

Strengths

• Pupils are “respectful and well mannered,” creating a calm environment with “very little disruptions during lessons.”
• The curriculum is ambitious and clear in developed subjects, with effective assessment strategies that support pupil learning.
• Reading is a high priority; staff are “suitably trained to teach the phonics programme well,” and struggling pupils receive timely extra support.
• Leaders identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “quickly and accurately,” ensuring tailored support and adapted activities.
• Governors “fulfil their statutory duties” and offer appropriate challenge, while staff feel leaders are “considerate of their workload.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the curriculum in a small number of subjects sets out “what pupils should learn, and in what order” to develop necessary depth of knowledge.
• Leaders should design a “coherent and well-ordered curriculum across all areas of learning in the early years” to ensure children gain the knowledge needed for Key Stage 1.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with a “strong safeguarding culture,” up-to-date staff training, and accurate records showing timely action on concerns.