West Acton Primary School

Overview

West Acton Primary School is described as a place where pupils are “happy,” “polite and welcoming,” and feel “safe.” Leaders place “great importance on pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional well-being,” fostering a culture where children are encouraged to speak out if they feel uncomfortable. The report highlights that senior leaders have “swiftly addressed the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection,” resulting in strengthened subject leadership and an effective behaviour policy.

Strengths

• The curriculum is carefully designed to reflect the “breadth and depth of the national curriculum,” helping pupils recognise its relevance to their lives.
• Staff are “quick to identify any pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND),” providing support that is “very carefully tailored to their needs.”
• Teachers follow leaders’ curriculum thinking, encouraging pupils to learn “key technical vocabulary” and make links across subjects.
• Leaders ensure “consistent and well-established routines” for early reading, with staff providing strong support for targeted pupils.
• The governing body plays an “active role,” regularly consulting with staff, parents, and pupils on all aspects of school life.

Areas to improve

• In “a few subjects,” routines to help pupils recall prior learning are not as well established as in others, meaning pupils do not remember key facts as strongly. Leaders should ensure these strategies are “fully established in all subjects.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that leaders are “thoroughly committed to promoting a culture of safeguarding” and that staff are suitably trained and alert to signs of risk.