Prior Park Primary School

Overview

Leaders have created an inclusive environment with high expectations, resulting in pupils achieving well, particularly in phonics. The school fosters positive relationships with families and ensures pupils feel safe and supported through effective counselling services.

Strengths

• Reading is taught consistently using a phonics programme, with staff quickly identifying and supporting pupils who are not keeping up.
• Pupils behave well and feel safe; adults resolve issues such as name-calling quickly.
• The early years provision is strong, with children prepared well for Year 1 through purposeful activities and positive relationships.
• Pupils develop a broad knowledge of their local area and the wider world through visits to landmarks and engagement with local projects.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are supported effectively to access learning alongside their peers.

Areas to improve

• Religious education has not been taught frequently enough, leaving pupils’ knowledge of different faiths underdeveloped.
• Teachers do not consistently use assessment information to inform teaching in foundation subjects, meaning some learning does not become embedded in long-term memory.
• Leaders are still working on promoting a love of reading, particularly among older pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff alert to concerns, trained in reporting procedures, and aware of contextual risks such as water safety.