Kells Lane Primary School

Overview

Pupils are described as “happy and safe” within a school characterised by “caring relationships” and high expectations. Leaders have established “detailed, ambitious curriculum planning” that engages pupils, with reading taught “extremely well” through consistent phonics instruction. The school benefits from strong leadership, where staff feel “valued and supported,” and governors are aware of their statutory duties.

Strengths

• Reading and phonics are taught “extremely well,” with pupils reading “accurately and confidently” and showing enthusiasm for stories.
• Pupils are “extremely well behaved,” courteous, and take on responsibilities enthusiastically, including running their own clubs.
• The curriculum is enhanced by “many educational visits and visitors,” helping pupils recall learning and use prior knowledge effectively.
• Vulnerable pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), receive “specialist support” and make “steady progress.”
• Staff are “well trained” to support vulnerable pupils, with provisions like the ‘Oak Room’ helping children regulate emotions.

Areas to improve

• End-of-unit assessments in some foundation subjects do not “precisely judge the knowledge pupils have been taught,” requiring refined assessment approaches.
• Some subject leaders lack a “clear understanding of how their subject is planned and taught in the early years,” affecting the accuracy of their overview of learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with thorough staff training, swift logging of concerns, and appropriate liaison with external agencies to keep pupils safe.