de Vere Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 July 2023

Children in early years make an exceptional start to their education in this warm and welcoming school. Children's communication skills develop rapidly through the precise support they receive. They respond well to staff's high expectations. Pupils eagerly make the most of the opportunities on offer. They are passionate about being sustainable. They check there is no food waste in the canteen and grow their own vegetables to eat. Pupils are strongly encouraged to make a difference. They are proud of the new library they helped design and their responsibilities as play leaders. Pupils behave well and respect each other's opinions. They have a good understanding that people are different. Peer mediators help during play times, so that pupils quickly make up should they fall out. There is a strong rapport between pupils and adults. Pupils trust staff to deal with any concerns promptly and fairly. Pupils' physical and mental health are prioritised by leaders. Through mental health lessons, pupils develop an impressive understanding of how the brain works. They know how this influences their emotions and reactions.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not consistently deliver leaders' expectations of how to teach writing and how often. There has been some confusion over expectations for the foundation subjects. This means that the quality of writing varies for some pupils in some classes. Leaders should re-establish expectations, making sure that pupils have meaningful opportunities to write for different purposes and audiences, and at length, so they are prepared for the writing demands in secondary school.

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