Healey Junior Infant and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 26 April 2022

Staff have high expectations for pupils' learning and behaviour. Pupils are clear about the school's golden rules. In the early years, staff establish important routines that support children to behave well and be ready to learn. This serves pupils well as they progress through school. Pupils concentrate well in class and get fully involved in their learning. Relationships between staff and pupils are positive. Pupils value the warm and caring way staff support them and keep them safe. Pupils are confident in reporting any worries because they know staff will listen and deal with their concerns. Staff take bullying incidents seriously and make sure that appropriate action is taken. Pupils enjoy the curriculum on offer. As one pupil said, 'If you are coming here to learn, you will leave with lots of knowledge and a smile on your face.' Pupils learn well across the range of subjects and welcome the clubs and sporting experiences that staff provide. The curriculum is responsive to local and national events. Teachers provide pupils with the necessary knowledge to understand what is happening in the world around them. For example, a 'fair share' programme runs in school and pupils are actively encouraged to help their community through the local food bank.

What the school should improve

• Teachers sometimes set activities which require pupils in early years and key stage 1 to write when they do not have enough prior knowledge to spell the words accurately. Teachers should make sure activities are chosen to help pupils learn the intended knowledge. When activities involve writing, pupils should use the spelling knowledge they have been taught in phonics so that it becomes fluent.
• Teachers are addressing the gaps in some pupils' mathematical knowledge as a result of the pandemic. Leaders should ensure that pupils quickly get back on track with the usual expectations of the school's mathematics curriculum.
• Leaders have introduced a range of procedures to improve pupils' attendance. However, too many pupils do not attend often enough and are missing out on valuable learning. Leaders should ensure that their actions are increasingly effective in improving pupils' attendance.
• Pupils learn about diversity and inclusion and understand how to treat others with respect. However, they do not always put this into practice when they interact with their peers on the playground. Leaders should make sure the behaviour policy is effective in supporting pupils to enact the values they are taught.

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