Holmgate Primary School and Nursery

Overview: Holmgate Primary School and Nursery is a good school that provides a supportive and inclusive environment for its pupils. The school has a strong focus on teaching and learning, with leaders who are ambitious for all pupils to succeed. The early years provision is outstanding, with children getting off to an exceptional start.

Strengths:

• Pupils are well cared for and know that their teachers are there to help them.
• Leaders are ambitious that all pupils will succeed both personally and academically.
• Teachers have strong subject knowledge and explain new learning clearly.
• The school has a strong safeguarding culture, with leaders who understand their responsibilities and ensure that all staff receive the training they need to recognise the signs that pupils may be at risk of harm.
• Pupils learn about how to keep themselves safe and know who to talk to if they are worried or feel unsafe in any situation.
• The school has a positive working environment, with leaders who consider staff workload and well-being.

Areas to improve:

• In a very small number of subjects, curriculum plans do not identify the small steps of learning that pupils need to make as they work towards the overall learning intention.
• Assessment in subjects other than English and mathematics is not fully developed, with gaps in pupils' learning not consistently identified or addressed.
• Not enough pupils with SEND attend school well, and some pupils with SEND miss key learning in foundation subjects when they access nurture activities.

Safeguarding: The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong safeguarding culture and leaders who understand their responsibilities and ensure that all staff receive the necessary training.