Pinfold Street Primary School

Overview

Pinfold Street Primary School continues to be a good school, where “nurture is at the centre of learning.” Pupils are happy, behave well, and show respect for one another, benefiting from an ambitious curriculum and high-quality enrichment activities.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious in its breadth and scope,” with staff effectively teaching mathematics and reading through incremental knowledge building.
• Pupils receive a “flying start in reading” in Reception, supported by well-trained staff and consistent phonics teaching that helps all pupils, including those with SEND, become confident readers.
• The school is inclusive, with trained teams providing effective interventions and personalised support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Leaders prioritise pupils’ mental health and personal development, offering wide-ranging experiences such as the school farm, forest school, and residential visits.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with robust systems to monitor vulnerable pupils and a culture of vigilance among staff and governors.

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects, subject leaders lack secure knowledge of how their subject relates to early years learning, preventing pupils from building on prior learning effectively.
• Assessment in some subjects is not always helpful in identifying gaps in pupils’ understanding or planning next steps, meaning teachers do not always address learning needs promptly.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with robust systems to monitor vulnerable pupils, rigorous checks for visitors and staff, and regular training ensuring leaders act quickly to keep pupils safe.