The Laurels Primary School, Worthing

Overview

The Laurels Primary School is described as a ‘nurturing and caring’ environment where pupils ‘love’ attending and feel happy and safe. Leaders have established a ‘broad and interesting curriculum’ that fosters resilience and responsibility, resulting in a ‘purposeful buzz of learning’ and high attendance. The school has improved significantly since its previous inspection, with staff working closely together and governors providing effective oversight.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate a ‘good understanding of the natural environment’, actively participating in eco-councils and learning about local wildlife.
• The curriculum is ‘well-sequenced’, enabling pupils to ‘build their knowledge securely’ from Reception through to Year 6, particularly in history and reading.
• Staff are ‘well trained’ in phonics, ensuring children learn letter sounds early and become ‘fluent readers’ supported by a well-resourced library.
• Leaders show high regard for staff well-being, creating a ‘close-knit team’ where workload is considered and leaders are ‘approachable’.
• Extra-curricular opportunities, such as the ‘activity passport’, allow pupils to develop diverse interests and talents.

Areas to improve

• Ambitions for some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are ‘not always high enough’, requiring better staff training to ensure these pupils achieve the ‘best possible outcomes’.
• Assessment systems in some foundation subjects are ‘still developing’, meaning teachers are ‘not precisely sure what pupils already know’, leading to unaddressed gaps in learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with staff receiving thorough training and being ‘alert to spot any signs that may indicate that a pupil may be at risk of harm’.