Shefford Lower School

Overview

Shefford Lower School continues to be a good school, where pupils enjoy learning and feel safe due to a strong focus on values. The curriculum is high-quality and well-sequenced, with reading at its heart, ensuring most pupils become fluent readers by the end of Year 1.

Strengths

• Leaders have developed a "high-quality curriculum" that is "well sequenced," helping pupils make connections between topics and remember their learning.
• Reading is prioritised effectively; children in early years learn sounds and rhymes, and "most pupils are fluent readers by the end of Year 1."
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified early, with individual plans ensuring they "access the same curriculum as their peers."
• Behaviour is positive, with "positive and warm relationships between pupils and adults," ensuring learning is rarely disrupted.
• Staff feel valued and supported, while governors provide "effective support and challenge to leaders."

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, staff do not always give pupils "precise information on how to improve their work," so leaders should strengthen assessment and feedback.
• Leaders should continue planned work to extend and refine the curriculum as the school grows to include Years 5 and 6.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong safeguarding culture" where staff know how to record concerns and follow them up quickly.