Dovelands Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 January 2022

Pupils speak highly of this friendly school. They are proud that their school is 'rights respecting' and that their teachers listen to them. They enjoy celebrating each other's languages, cultures and traditions in this happy school. Teachers have high expectations of pupils. Pupils are keen to read and enjoy a variety of books and poems. They use their arithmetic well and explain solutions in mathematics. Pupils enjoy learning. For example, older pupils understand why people migrated to Leicester. They learn to care about the wider world. They plant trees, learn about deforestation for profit, and explain that 'you can't breathe money'. Pupils behave well. They are focused on their learning and classrooms are calm. They relish responsibilities, such as being library monitors and technicians. They represent their school in sports competitions and online conferences. They are keen to earn house points and win the house trophy. They appreciate experiences such as dance and gardening lessons. Pupils say bullying rarely happens. They trust adults to help them solve issues fairly. Parents and carers say their children feel happy and safe. Opportunities to promote pupils' emotional and physical well-being are well considered. Pupils are thoughtful and responsible.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not ensured that pupils have consistent opportunities to recall and remember their learning in all subjects. Teachers do not consistently assess and use assessment information to progress pupils' learning in all foundation subjects. Leaders should ensure teachers assess and provide pupils with regular opportunities to recall and remember their learning in all subjects.
• Leaders have identified what they want pupils to know and remember from Year 1 to Year 6 in all subjects. They have not identified the most important knowledge that they want children in the early years to learn, as the starting point for foundation subjects. It is not clear how the topics children study in the early years are teaching the key knowledge and skills they need as they move into key stage 1. Leaders should ensure they identify the key knowledge children should learn in the early years to best prepare them for their future learning.

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