Hempnall Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 21 February 2023

Pupils are happy and make lots of friends at their school. They emulate the kindness and respect that their teachers model. Pupils embrace difference and are broad- minded. They are safe because staff are knowledgeable and support pupils' well- being and safety. Bullying is rare and pupils know that if it happens, the adults will sort it out. In class, pupils try their best, encouraged by their teachers. Pupils appreciate the way that their effort, kindness and achievements are recognised and celebrated in assemblies. As a result, pupils are motivated and curious. They are eager to share their knowledge and ask further questions. Pupils enjoy the play and learning opportunities that the school's extensive grounds provide. Sport occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of pupils. They look forward to taking part in sporting events with pupils from different schools. Pupils also attend a range of after-school sports clubs. They can even go on a cross-country run with the headteacher. Pupils are proud to raise money for charity and take on roles such as house captain at their school. They take these roles seriously, knowing they must be good role models to others.

What the school should improve

• Some staff are still learning how to refine their teaching of the curriculum in some subjects. This means that, at times, teachers do not choose the most appropriate teaching approaches. Leaders need to continue their work to support staff to develop their teaching expertise.
• Leaders' monitoring of how effectively teachers support pupils with SEND is not as efficient and streamlined as it could be. This means that, on occasion, staff do not identify additional opportunities for supporting pupils with SEND in a timely way. Leaders need to hone their process for the monitoring of support for pupils with SEND.
• Some routines in the early years are less well established than others. This means that, during some activities, such as story time, some children do not have the chance to practise and develop their language skills as much as they could. Leaders need to support and train staff to further develop their teaching expertise in this area.
• Communications with stakeholders are not as consistently effective as they could be. As a result, a small number of parents and staff do not feel they know enough about what is happening in the school. Leaders need to enhance their methods of communicating, so that parents and staff are better informed about the positive changes that leaders have set in place.

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