Riverside Primary School and Nursery

Overview

Pupils are described as ‘happy and thriving’ in a school where leaders are ‘ambitious for pupils to achieve their very best’. The inspection highlights ‘warm, trusting relationships’ throughout the school, with pupils working enthusiastically and socialising well. While the curriculum is generally strong, particularly in reading and mathematics, inconsistencies in other subjects and persistent absenteeism remain challenges.

Strengths

• Leaders have developed an ‘ambitious curriculum’ with a consistent approach to teaching mathematics and reading, ensuring pupils build knowledge over time.
• Staff effectively support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, allowing them to ‘access the same curriculum as their peers and achieve well’.
• There is a strong culture of reading, with a ‘well-structured programme’ from reception and a ‘well-stocked library’ that instils a love of books.
• Early years provision uses ‘well-designed activities’ that engage children’s interests and support the development of resilience and independence.
• Staff and governors work collaboratively, with leaders being ‘considerate of staff workload’ and mindful of well-being.

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects, teachers do not always design tasks that enable pupils to ‘build knowledge systematically’, leading to gaps in understanding.
• Leaders must ensure teachers implement the curriculum effectively across all subjects and identify knowledge gaps ‘quickly enough so that they can be addressed promptly’.
• Attendance remains an issue, with ‘too many pupils who are absent too often’, causing them to miss vital learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with an ‘effective culture of safeguarding’ where staff receive appropriate training and leaders act on concerns while liaising well with external agencies.