Russell Lower School

Overview

Russell Lower School continues to be a good school, providing a "nurturing and caring environment" where pupils are "friendly and happy." Leaders have designed a logical curriculum that ensures pupils are "well prepared for when they move to middle school," supported by high expectations and positive relationships.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate "positive attitudes to learning" and "show pride in their work," benefiting from a broad curriculum that develops their interests.
• Leaders prioritise reading, with staff having the expertise to teach phonics "consistently and well," ensuring most pupils become "confident, fluent readers."
• The school effectively supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring they "access the full curriculum" and make "strong progress."
• Staff and governors share "high ambitions" for pupils, with leaders providing strong support for staff well-being and robust safeguarding arrangements.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure all pupils are given books that are "matched closely to their current phonics knowledge" to help them become accurate, fluent readers more quickly.
• Leaders should ensure all teachers have "secure subject knowledge" in all curriculum areas to plan activities that help pupils remember important subject knowledge.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving regular training and leaders acting promptly to ensure pupils get the help they need.