Riverside Primary School

Overview

Riverside Primary School is described as a place where pupils “love coming” and staff “ignite a passion for learning.” The report highlights a “very happy atmosphere” where pupils are “especially respectful” and achieve well, particularly in creative arts and sports. Leaders have successfully balanced academic success with developing pupils as “well-rounded citizens,” ensuring they leave well prepared for secondary school.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “Outstanding” behaviour and attitudes, with disruption being “very rare” and bullying dealt with “quickly and effectively.”
• Reading is given “high priority,” with staff delivering phonics with “precision” and ensuring pupils become “fluent readers as quickly as possible.”
• The needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “identified accurately,” with those facing social, emotional, and mental health difficulties being “particularly well supported.”
• Staff feel “valued” and supported by leaders, who have taken actions to “reduce their workload,” fostering a “strong team feeling.”
• Pupils benefit from a “wealth of rich experiences,” including clubs, trips, and visits from community members, which “raise their aspirations.”

Areas to improve

• In a “small number of subjects,” leaders have not identified carefully enough what knowledge pupils need to remember, which “hinders teachers when they design learning.” Leaders should ensure clarity on the knowledge pupils need to retain in these subjects.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting a “strong safeguarding culture” where staff are well trained to recognise risks and work closely with parents and outside agencies to protect pupils.