Hartford Manor Primary School & Nursery

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy, polite and very welcoming to visitors. They feel safe and well cared for at school. Leaders have created a culture where pupils can talk to adults if they have any concerns or worries.

Staff know the pupils and their families well. If there is any unkindness or bullying, it is resolved quickly by staff.

Leaders have high expectations for pupils' achievement, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

However, these high expectations are not clearly outlined in all areas of the early years. The curriculum in this part of the school does not prepare children for the next stage in their learning well enough.
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Staff have high expectations of all pupils' behaviour.

Pupils rise to these high expectations. They are respectful and well mannered. As a result, the school is calm and pupils get on with their learning, with very little disruptions during lessons.

Pupils enjoy the variety of clubs on offer, including cricket, fencing and science club. Pupils look forward to residential trips, such as visiting London in Year 6, as well as a trip to Cumbria in Year 5. This gives all pupils the opportunity to build relationships as well as learning about contrasting parts of England.

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

Leaders have designed a curriculum that identifies the ambitious end points that they want pupils to achieve across the wider curriculum. Where the curriculum is further developed, it is very clear as to what the pupils are to be taught and when they will learn subject content. That said, in a few subjects, where the curriculum is at an earlier stage of development, leaders have not considered in enough detail the smaller chunks of knowledge that pupils should learn.

As a result, in these subjects, some pupils do not develop the depth of knowledge that they should.

The assessment strategies that teachers use are effective and typically support pupils with their learning.

In the early years, leaders have ensured that children get off to a good start with their reading.

Children settle well and are happy. While leaders have thought carefully about the curriculum to promote early writing and mathematics, they have not given as much consideration to other areas of learning. This means that children do not learn all that they should in order to gain a firm foundation for later learning.

This limits their readiness to make a successful start when they enter Year 1.

Leaders ensure that reading has a profile from the early years through to Year 6. In the Nursery Year, children are encouraged to sing nursery rhymes and share books with adults.

As they progress to the Reception Year and Year 1, children and pupils develop their understanding of phonics securely.

Staff are suitably trained to teach the phonics programme well. Teachers check pupils' progress regularly.

If pupils struggle to keep up with the programme, they receive extra support to help them catch up. Older pupils enjoy the responsibility of being reading buddies. They read regularly to children in the early years.

Leaders identify the needs of pupils with SEND quickly and accurately. Leaders ensure that pupils' needs are understood by staff. Teachers adapt activities effectively so that these pupils can access the curriculum.

Pupils with more complex needs receive tailored support from trained adults.

Pupils, including children in the early years, behave well during lessons and around the school grounds. However, on occasions, a few pupils do not always follow the school rules when there is not an adult present.

Pupils have a good understanding of the fundamental British values. Pupils learn about different faiths through their religious education curriculum, they are respectful and celebrate difference and diversity.

Older pupils enjoy extra responsibilities such as house point monitors, road safety monitors and house captains.

Governors know the school and its community well. They fulfil their statutory duties and offer appropriate support and challenge to leaders. Staff are proud to work at the school and share leaders' ambition for all pupils.

The staff with whom inspectors spoke said that leaders are considerate of their workload. Parents and carers who shared their views said they would recommend this school to others.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Leaders ensure that there is a strong safeguarding culture. They provide staff with up-to-date safeguarding training. Staff are adept at identifying any signs of concern and report them swiftly.

Leaders work well with a range of external agencies to ensure that any vulnerable pupils and their families receive the help they need. Leaders maintain accurate and thorough records which show evidence of timely action being taken where concerns have been raised.

Pupils know how to keep themselves safe in the real and online world.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In a small number of subjects, leaders have not identified the small chunks of knowledge that pupils need to know in order to reach the ambitious end points of the curriculum. As a result, teachers do not design learning that allows pupils to develop the depth of knowledge that they need. Leaders should ensure that in these subjects, the curriculum sets out what pupils should learn, and in what order, from the early years to Year 6.

• Leaders have not designed a coherent and well-ordered curriculum across all areas of learning in the early years. This means that children do not gain the knowledge that they need to be successful when they enter key stage 1. Leaders should design a high-quality curriculum that provides a strong foundation in all areas of learning.

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