Ainslie Wood Primary School

Inspection of Ainslie Wood Primary School 140 Ainslie Wood Road, Waltham Forest, London E4 9DD

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Previous inspection grade Good 11 and 12 July 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders have developed a warm, caring and welcoming community. They have high expectations for all pupils. Pupils study a broad and balanced curriculum. It aims to develop pupils as active citizens who can apply their learning to the real world.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are happy, polite and enjoy learning. Staff know their pupils extremely well. Pupils are safe in the school. They all have trusted adults to speak to if they have any concerns. Pupils are well behaved in lessons and in other areas of the school site. Children in early years are taught to follow routines and instructions.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff enable pupils across the school to prepare for transitioning to new year groups through ‘Early Risers’. The development of pupils’ character is exceptional and central to the whole curriculum. Bespoke support is put in place for any pupils who need to develop aspects of their character.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils take part in an extremely broad range of high-quality wider opportunities. These include sports, coding and drama clubs. Pupils also have the opportunity to take part in a variety of tournaments and competitions. There is a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their leadership skills. This includes digital, community and sports leaders. Some pupils have developed their own school podcast.

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better?

Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum for all. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders ensure that all subjects meet the ambition of the national curriculum. The school’s curricular thinking is well developed, including in the early years.

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better?

In most subjects, the curriculum builds on developing pupils’ knowledge over time. However, in some subjects, leaders have not identified the key knowledge they want pupils to learn. This means that pupils do not build on prior learning securely. In the early years, staff help to develop children’s understanding across all areas of learning well.

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better?

Teachers have strong subject knowledge and present information clearly. They check pupils’ understanding regularly and address misconceptions when required. Teachers enable pupils to achieve well across the curriculum.

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better?

Leaders have a sharp focus on pupils learning to read when they first join the school. Staff use a clear curriculum to develop pupils’ understanding of phonics quickly. They regularly assess pupils, which means they know pupils well. If any pupils fall behind the pace of the phonics programme, staff give swift and effective support to help them catch up. Leaders have put a number of strategies in place to ensure that pupils enjoy reading a range of books. In early years, there is a focus on 11 and 12 July 2023

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ensuring that children acquire a wide vocabulary. Staff help to develop children’s communication and language skills effectively.

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Staff identify the needs of pupils with SEND swiftly. Staff are well trained to ensure they can provide high-quality support for pupils with a range of needs. Adaptations are made during lessons to ensure that pupils with SEND can fully participate in and understand what is being taught.

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Pupils behave well during lessons and focus on their learning. Systems to manage behaviour are used consistently by staff and are understood by pupils. In early years, children follow routines sensibly and concentrate on activities. They listen and respond positively to adults and each other.

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The personal development programme is embedded very skilfully across the whole curriculum. This is of exceptional quality and allows pupils to constantly use the skills they learn in all aspects of the school. Teachers support pupils to develop their understanding of healthy lifestyles very well. Pupils benefit greatly from a range of external speakers, including a climate change specialist and an author. All pupils access a range of outings each year that are linked to their curriculum. These include visits to the zoo, museums and galleries.

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Leaders consider carefully the well-being of staff and are mindful of the pressures of workload. Staff’s professional development is supported through a bespoke programme. This supports the individual learning needs of each member of staff in the school. The governing body understands the strengths and priorities of the school. It carries out its role effectively, providing appropriate challenge and support to leaders.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have ensured that there is a strong culture of safeguarding throughout the school. Staff are well trained and vigilant in reporting any concerns. Leaders work with a range of external agencies to provide specialist support for pupils.

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Safeguarding

Pupils understand how to keep themselves safe and how to report any concerns. Leaders take swift action if any concerns are raised. They are alert to any emerging safeguarding risks and react promptly in response to these.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 In some subjects, the curriculum is not coherently planned and sequenced towards cumulative knowledge. This means that, sometimes, pupils do not remember long term the content they have been taught. Leaders should clearly 11 and 12 July 2023

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identify the component knowledge they want pupils to acquire at each stage of the curriculum in all subjects and ensure that knowledge is built on prior learning securely.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to 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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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. 11 and 12 July 2023

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School details

Local authority London Borough of Waltham Forest

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School details

Inspection number 10240950 Type of school Primary

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Date of previous inspection 2 July 2019, under section 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 This school uses one alternative provider.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Inspectors discussed the impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, members of the senior leadership team and a range of staff. They also met with members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in the following subjects: early reading, mathematics, religious education and art. For each deep dive, inspectors spoke to subject leaders, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers and pupils, and 11 and 12 July 2023

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looked at samples of pupils’ work. The curriculum in other subjects was also considered.  To inspect safeguarding, inspectors met with the safeguarding leaders, along with pupils and staff. The records of pre-employment checks and other relevant documentation were also reviewed.  Inspectors considered the views of parents, pupils and staff, including through responses to Ofsted’s online surveys.

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Inspection team

Simon Conway, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Andrea Bedeau His Majesty’s Inspector 11 and 12 July 2023

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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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