Samuel Allsopp Primary and Nursery School

Overview

Pupils are described as “joyful and safe” in this “caring school,” where “high expectations and warm relationships” foster a welcoming environment. While teaching standards in English and mathematics have improved, the report states that pupils “do not achieve highly enough across the whole curriculum” and many have “gaps in their learning.” Consequently, the quality of education, leadership, and early years provision are judged as requiring improvement, though behaviour and personal development are rated good.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit “positive” behaviour, are “delightful in their conduct,” and show “enthusiasm for learning.”
• There is a “high-quality phonics programme” with a “relentless focus” on helping struggling readers become “fluent and confident.”
• The school has achieved “great success in improving attendance,” dramatically reducing persistent absence.
• Personal development is “thoughtfully planned,” helping pupils understand equality and embrace “fundamental British values.”
• Staff demonstrate “expertise and compassion” in providing pastoral care for pupils needing emotional support.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must use checks on pupil knowledge to “address misconceptions” and help pupils “acquire knowledge successfully across the curriculum.”
• Staff need better skills to “adapt learning” so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) can make strong progress.
• Early years provision must ensure children have “secure foundational knowledge and skills” to be fully prepared for Year 1.
• Governors must “hold the school to account fully” to ensure pupils achieve more highly across the whole curriculum.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”