Western Road Community Primary School

Overview

Pupils are “very happy to come to school” and feel part of a “welcoming school community” where they are “kind”, “welcoming”, “fantastic” and “fun”. The school has “high ambition” for its pupils, with achievement meeting these goals through success in national assessments. Leaders and staff share a clear vision, ensuring the education provided is impactful and suits the needs of the pupils.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “thoughtful and sequenced well”, helping pupils to “steadily build their knowledge over time”.
• Reading is a priority, with phonics taught consistently and pupils who need extra help catching up quickly through “impactful, closely targeted support”.
• Staff are well informed about pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities, making appropriate adaptations so learning is “as rich and ambitious as that of their peers”.
• The early years class is an “exciting and vibrant place in which to learn”, with staff linking activities to promote development and imaginative interactions.
• Pupils behave well in a “calm and focused learning environment”, playing “energetically and kindly” at social times.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, pupils have less opportunity to “practically apply what they have already learned”, leading to less confidence in remembering and using knowledge.
• There is variability in how well the wider development offer helps pupils gain “age-appropriate knowledge about fundamental British values and the protected characteristics”.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.