East Hunsbury Primary School

Inspection of a good school: East Hunsbury Primary School Penvale Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN4 0QW

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Outcome

East Hunsbury Primary School continues to be a good school.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy attending this welcoming and inclusive school. There is a strong sense of community. Pupils follow the school’s ethos of being ‘respectful, ready and safe’.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils live up to these expectations. They behave well and work hard. Pupils say that bullying is rare, but that staff would help to stop it quickly if it happened. Pupils feel safe in school. They achieve well across a range of subjects.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy all the opportunities the school offers them, including forest school, and after-school clubs. Pupils readily take on extra responsibilities, such as being reading ambassadors. They feel proud of the contributions they make to school life. Teachers encourage pupils to be aspirational and to think about how they can make a difference in their community. This helps pupils become responsible, caring citizens.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and carers are positive about the work of the school. They appreciate the caring environment in which their children learn. A typical comment from a parent was: ‘East Hunsbury is a wonderful school. The teachers go above and beyond for the children here.’

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

Leaders are passionate about providing the best learning experiences for children. They have ensured the curriculum is broad and ambitious. Leaders have identified what they want pupils to learn in all subjects, from the early years to Year 6. The important knowledge is well organised and allows pupils to build on what they already know. For example, in mathematics, teachers make sure that pupils have a secure knowledge of number before they expect pupils to solve complex calculations. This helps pupils to gain confidence and achieve well.

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

Leaders provide staff with the guidance and training they need to teach the curriculum well. Teachers check what pupils can do through daily retrieval activities at the start of 21 and 22 April 2022

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lessons. They use assessment information well to plan lessons that build on pupils’ prior learning. This is particularly effective in English and mathematics. Leaders plan to embed this fully in all subjects, so that teachers know which key skills and knowledge need to be further developed.

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Reading is at the heart of the school’s curriculum. Children in the Reception Year develop their vocabulary and reading skills as soon as they start school. Pupils read books that match the sounds they know and enjoy listening to stories read to them by their teachers. Pupils who find reading more difficult are well supported to catch up quickly. Teachers introduce pupils to a wide range of texts that represent the modern-day world. Pupils have positive attitudes to reading. They read often and enjoy visiting the well-stocked school library.

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Typically, pupils behave well. Children in early years develop self-control. They know how to live together happily. Pupils report occasional incidents of poor behaviour by a small number of pupils. They understand that some pupils find it harder to stay on task. Skilled staff provide the nurture some pupils need. This helps them to regulate their behaviour. Pupils play well together during break and lunchtimes. They have lots of activities to do and particularly enjoy their time on the sports pitch, led by a sports specialist.

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Pupils with SEND are fully included in all aspects of school life. Staff in the specialist unit are expert practitioners. Pupils are happy and thrive in the positive and nurturing environment. Staff know the needs of every pupil well. They provide tailored support to make sure all pupils with SEND achieve well. Pupils in the specialist unit are able to succeed. They are happy and confident learners.

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Leaders ensure that the curriculum to support pupils’ personal development is effective. Pupils learn to respect different cultures and beliefs. They learn about different kinds of families. Pupils are proud to be ‘community champions’. They contribute to life in the local area. For example, pupils visit elderly residents and play games with them. Pupils brightened up the local library area with plants and flowers. They develop positive attitudes towards others and are well prepared for their next stage of education.

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Governors and leaders of the Northampton Primary Academy Trust (NPAT) make a positive contribution. They know the school well and offer effective challenge and support. They work effectively with leaders to ensure that the school continues to improve.

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Staff are positive about the support they receive from leaders. They appreciate the consideration given to their workload and well-being. Staff say they are ‘one big family’.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is a strong culture of safeguarding. Staff are well trained and receive regular updates. Staff know each pupil well. This means that they can quickly spot signs of 21 and 22 April 2022

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concern. Staff understand and follow the school’s safeguarding procedures. They report concerns promptly.

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Pupils know who to go to should they have a concern. They are confident that there are trusted adults in school they can share any worries with. Pupils learn age-appropriate strategies to help them keep safe, including when using the internet.

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Governors check that leaders are fulfilling their safeguarding responsibilities effectively. This includes rigorous pre-employment checks.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 Assessment of the wider curriculum is not yet fully embedded throughout the school. Teachers do not always identify the key skills, concepts and knowledge that need to be further developed. Leaders should establish a clear structure for the assessment of pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the wider curriculum.

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Background

When we have judged a school to be good, we will then normally go into the school about once every four years to confirm that the school remains good. This is called a section 8 inspection of a good or outstanding school, because it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on a section 8 inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school would now receive a higher or lower grade, then the next inspection will be a section 5 inspection. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the section 8 inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the section 8 inspection as a section 5 inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the first section 8 inspection since we judged the predecessor school, East Hunsbury Primary School, to be good in July 2013.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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How can I feed back my views?

If you are the school and you are not happy with the inspection or the report, you can complain to Ofsted . 21 and 22 April 2022

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 21 and 22 April 2022

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School details

Inspection number 10226875 Type of school Primary

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School details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 East Hunsbury Primary School converted to become an academy school in November 2017. When its predecessor school, East Hunsbury Primary School, was last inspected by Ofsted it was judged to be good overall.  The school is part of NPAT.  The headteacher has been in post since 19 April 2022.  The school does not use any alternative providers.  The school has a specialist unit that accommodates 47 pupils with significant learning disabilities.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school has received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  During the inspection, the inspector met with the headteacher, senior leaders and a range of staff. 21 and 22 April 2022

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 The inspector met with members of the governing body and with representatives of NPAT.  To evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s arrangements for safeguarding, the inspector reviewed school policies, procedures and records. The inspector met with the designated safeguarding lead and spoke with staff, governors and pupils about the school’s approach to keeping pupils safe.  The inspector carried out deep dives in early reading, mathematics, and history. For each deep dive, the inspector met with subject leaders to discuss the curriculum, spoke with teachers, and spoke with pupils about their learning. The inspector visited lessons and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector observed pupils reading to a familiar adult.  The inspector observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and around school. She considered responses to Ofsted Parent View, including free-text comments. The inspector met with

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groups of staff and pupils and considered responses to Ofsted’s surveys.

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Inspection team

Kirsty Norbury, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector 21 and 22 April 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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