Eastlands Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

The school motto is 'empowering and preparing for success in a changing world'. Leaders and staff endeavour to live up to this aim. They support pupils to grow as well-rounded individuals.

They provide them with highly memorable learning experiences. Pupils have access to a wide range of opportunities to develop their talents and interests beyond the classroom. They enjoy a safe and stimulating environment where they thrive and are happy.

Leaders and staff have a strong focus on ensuring that all pupils fulfil their potential. The curriculum is structured to support highly effective progress. It prepares pupils exceptionally well for secondary education.'

Kin...d words, kind deeds, kind thoughts' form the basis of the school's behaviour policy. Pupils respond well to this positive approach. They behave extremely well in lessons and during breaktimes.

They get on well with one another. They know what bullying is and why it should not happen. Staff deal with bullying effectively.

Pupils trust staff to take their concerns seriously.

Leaders encourage parents to get involved in their children's education. They make parents feel welcome at the school.

They provide comprehensive information about school life on the website and in newsletters.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum. They have structured learning to ensure that their high expectations are realised.

Step-by-step progression in learning from the early years to Year 6 is well thought through and highly effective.

Children get an exceptionally strong start to their education in the Nursery and Reception classes. Classrooms are stimulating and well organised.

Caring staff support children's social and personal development. They also provide children with the foundation they need to be very well prepared for key stage 1. Children gain an excellent knowledge of early literacy and numeracy.

They explore a range of topics that link to the subjects they will study in Year 1. The curriculum in key stages 1 and 2 enables pupils to gain the breadth and depth of knowledge they need to be ready for key stage 3.

Effective curriculum delivery is very well established.

Teachers provide learning activities that develop what pupils can do and remember. In mathematics, for example, pupils apply previous learning to complete tasks at the start of new lessons. In physical education (PE), activities require pupils to use and build upon what they learned in previous lessons.

Pupils often apply the knowledge learned in one subject to other subjects. Across the curriculum pupils achieve highly.

Teachers are attentive to how well pupils are learning.

They check pupils' work and correct mistakes during lessons. Teachers have effective systems to check pupils' progress over time in different subjects.

Pupils do not disrupt lessons.

They have exceptionally positive attitudes to learning and work well with others.

Making sure that all pupils learn to read well as soon as they can is one of leaders' top priorities. Familiarisation with phonics starts in Nursery.

From the start of the Reception year, children follow a well-established phonics programme. Staff provide effective support to children who find reading difficult to help them keep up. The few pupils who do not become fluent readers by the end of Year 1 get extra support from staff to catch up.

Reading is central to the school's curriculum. Leaders and staff make sure that pupils read every day.

The school is an inclusive community.

Leaders and staff want all pupils to enjoy school and experience success. They support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well. The special educational needs coordinator ensures that pupils' needs are accurately identified.

Staff adapt learning and extra-curricular activities so that pupils with SEND can access them all. Pupils with SEND make strong progress and participate fully in school life.

The school's approach to pupils' personal development is extremely well planned and constructed.

Staff promote positive personal development through the curriculum, assemblies and extra-curricular activities. Pupils have many highly effective opportunities to develop their character and understanding of the world around them. The school's work on the promotion of diversity, tolerance, understanding of relationships and democracy is exceptional.

It leads to pupils developing an excellent awareness of British values.

Leaders support the professional development of staff exceptionally well. They take staff workload fully into consideration when implementing the school's improvement plans.

Governors are very well informed and committed to the school. They provide highly effective challenge and support to leaders. They contribute fully to shaping the school's strategic direction.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders make sure that all members of staff are up to date with relevant training. Staff are vigilant and know how to identify and report safeguarding issues.

Leaders follow up on any concerns effectively. They work well with families and external agencies to secure appropriate help for pupils who need it.

Leaders have the expertise they need to manage safe recruitment and deal with any concerns about adults.

Staff make pupils aware of a range of risks. Pupils learn how to adopt safe behaviours in their daily lives. This includes safe use of the internet.