Parley First School

Overview

Parley First School is described as a place where pupils are "kind and respectful" and feel safe, benefiting from "warm and caring" relationships with adults. The school delivers a "strong" curriculum in early reading and mathematics, fostering a culture where pupils learn with "pride and enthusiasm." While the overall effectiveness is rated Good, the report notes that curriculum planning in some subjects is still being refined to ensure pupils retain key knowledge.

Strengths

• Pupils are "happy at school" and develop independence, learning to "overcome challenges and resolve their differences."
• The early reading and mathematics curriculums are "strong," with teachers knowing "precisely what each pupil needs to practise."
• Leaders are "ambitious for pupils with SEND," ensuring they access the full curriculum with "tenacious" support.
• Behaviour is excellent, with "low-level disruption" being rare and bullying described as "extremely rare."
• Pastoral care is a "strength," with pupils learning important safety messages and developing a "strong sense of right and wrong."

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, activities do not match leaders’ intentions, meaning pupils "do not always remember important information."
• Assessment is not always used effectively, so teachers do not always have an "accurate view of what pupils know and are able to do."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," supported by a "strong culture" where staff are well trained and reporting is "robust."