West Lodge Primary School

Overview

West Lodge Primary School is described as a place where pupils are “very happy and kept safe” under leaders who provide “great care and nurture.” The report highlights an “ambitious curriculum” and “exemplary” behaviour, noting that pupils are “articulate, confident and self-assured” with excellent working relationships with staff.

Strengths

• Leaders have developed an “ambitious curriculum offer” with subject leaders carefully planning key knowledge and skills, such as building strong scientific knowledge before practical work.
• Teachers “check pupils’ understanding regularly” and address misconceptions effectively, helping pupils build a “deep body of knowledge” in subjects like French and mathematics.
• Pupils’ behaviour is “exemplary,” with clear routines consistently understood; they are “polite and courteous” and leaders “do not tolerate any bullying.”
• The school provides “excellent opportunities to develop pupils’ character,” including charity fundraising, mindfulness sessions, and a wide variety of enrichment clubs.
• Leaders identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) accurately, providing “bespoke support” and working closely with specialists.

Areas to improve

• In Reception, staff do not address children’s phonics misconceptions “sharply enough,” meaning weaker readers do not segment and blend words as accurately as they could.
• Adults’ interactions in Reception sometimes fail to help children develop communication and language skills effectively, preventing some from building a “deep body of knowledge and vocabulary.”

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a “strong culture of safeguarding” where staff are well trained to identify concerns and work closely with external agencies.