Dundale Primary School and Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 17 December 2024

Pupils enjoy being part of this welcoming school. They appreciate and benefit from the many improvements the school has made. For example, pupils value the introduction of the 'Dundale Way', which outlines the school's expectations of pupils' behaviour. They understand the school's expectations and live up to them. Pupils build positive relationships with each other and staff. In the early years, children learn how to be kind, such as by sharing and taking turns. Pupils thrive during playtimes. On the playground, they have fun together exploring the enriching activities. As a result of the improvements made across the school, pupils learn well. Starting in the early years, pupils come to know that learning is important. They delight in learning while playing alongside their peers. In lessons, pupils ask interesting questions and articulately discuss what they are learning. Owing to the redesigned curriculum and staff training, pupils achieve the curriculum goals well. Pupils are well prepared for secondary education. Pupils learn about life beyond school. They are aware of current events and understand the issues that young people face in society. Pupils develop awareness of potential risks, including when they are in the community or online. They know what to do if they have concerns.

What the school should improve

• At times, staff do not exactly match learning activities to some pupils' needs, including those with SEND. Consequently, pupils develop gaps in their knowledge. The school must ensure that staff arrange learning activities that support pupils to learn the curriculum as well as they could.
• Staff do not always realise when some pupils find something too hard or are ready to move on to deeper learning. This prevents pupils from deepening their understanding of the curriculum. The school must ensure that checks on learning identify when pupils need further support or are ready to move on to deeper learning.
• Although the school has improved pupils' attendance over time, absence remains high in comparison with similar schools. This means that some pupils continue to miss out on important learning time. The school needs to continue to develop its approaches to support pupils to attend school regularly.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)