Murdishaw West Primary and Nursery School

Overview

Pupils at Murdishaw West Community Primary School “enjoy attending” and feel “happy and safe,” benefiting from a “well-thought-out curriculum” that motivates them to succeed. Leaders maintain “high aspirations” for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, fostering a positive environment where staff greet pupils warmly and support their well-being. The school is described as having a strong culture where pupils are “proud of their school” and take pride in their work.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious for all pupils,” with leaders carefully setting out learning goals from early years to Year 6.
• Reading is prioritised, with staff well-trained to deliver phonics effectively and support pupils who fall behind.
• Staff “skilfully support pupils who need extra help to manage their behaviour or emotions,” resulting in rare disruptions.
• Leaders have built “strong relationships with pupils and their families,” with parents welcoming support for home learning.
• Governors “challenge and support leaders effectively” to evaluate the quality of education.

Areas to improve

• In a small number of subjects, teachers do not ensure pupils’ prior knowledge is secure before introducing new learning, leading to occasional gaps.
• Some pupils continue to arrive late to school, missing important aspects of their learning despite leaders’ efforts to improve punctuality.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding” where staff are well trained to spot signs of risk and make timely records of concerns.