Heron Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 February 2025

Heron Primary School is an inclusive, welcoming school. All staff in the school are ambitious for pupils to be successful learners. The Heron 'drivers' help the school focus its efforts on this aim. Pupils appreciate that staff care about them. They are happy and feel safe. They trust adults to look after them. Most say that staff deal with any worries they have quickly. The school has put a great deal of effort into supporting pupils' mental health and well- being in the wake of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. An extensive 'well-being' curriculum sets out how this will happen. These lessons help pupils to develop resilience, confidence and self-belief. Expectations for pupils' behaviour are high. Staff in the school apply the rules consistently. Pupils understand and follow the behaviour code. As a result, they behave well and show respect for staff and each other. Pupils follow instructions without hesitation. Lessons flow without interruption. Pupils move around school safely and sensibly. The outdoor play and learning project contributes much to pupils' good behaviour and well-being. It enables them to play, learn and mix well together. It gives them a chance to let off steam, challenge themselves and be active.

What the school should improve

• Some older do not enjoy reading and choose not to read outside lessons. Therefore, they do not practise reading enough to build confidence and a love of reading. The school should promote the value of reading to all pupils and ensure that a love of reading is part of the school's culture.
• A small number of pupils continue to be absent from school too often. When they are absent, the school cannot ensure that they are learning the curriculum. The school needs to ensure that it implements its renewed expectations and policies robustly and that persistent absence reduces as a result.
• The school has not identified all the specific vocabulary that children need to know to support their personal, social and emotional development in the early years. Therefore, some children might not learn to express themselves clearly or interact socially. The school needs to ensure that all children are taught the specific vocabulary they need to be able to express themselves clearly, interact socially and that they can apply this to communicate effectively.
• The school's work to engage with parents openly so that they know it takes their views seriously has had mixed success. Consequently, some parents do not believe that the school is working in the best interests of their children. The school should continue its work to build positive relationships with all parents.

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