Hexthorpe Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 September 2023

Hexthorpe Primary School is a happy and welcoming school. Staff know all pupils and families individually. Positive relationships between staff, pupils, parents and carers ensure everyone is valued and included. Pupils thrive in the family atmosphere of this nurturing school. The school sets high expectations for pupils learning. Staff want all pupils to do well. Pupils enjoy their learning. They know how the knowledge they learn in different subjects will help them in everyday life. Pupils behave well. They move around the building sensibly and safely. Pupils enjoy each other's company at breakfast club. Adults support pupils to play together at breaktimes and lunchtimes. Pupils are safe in school. Bullying is rare. If it does happen, adults deal with it swiftly and fairly. Pupils show respect and are accepting of others' differences. One pupil said, 'We are all equal and we have the same respect for everyone.' Staff provide high levels of support for pupils and parents. Parents welcome and appreciate this level of care. Staff are knowledgeable about the local community. The pastoral team helps families to access local services. Parents speak to the pastoral team willingly and happily.

What the school should improve

• Some pupils with SEND do not have precise learning targets in their individual education plans. This means that staff are not aware of the small steps needed for these pupils to make progress in their learning. The school needs to ensure that the targets for all pupils with SEND are precise and matched to their learning needs.
• Learning activities in the early years do not focus clearly on the development of key knowledge and vocabulary. Adult-led activities are too complex for many children. This means that children cannot access the intended learning outcomes. The school should ensure that the early years curriculum identifies the key knowledge and vocabulary that children need to be ready for year 1, including how this will be delivered within the setting.
• In the early years, adults do not model the language or vocabulary that they want children to learn consistently. Adults miss opportunities to check whether children have acquired the vocabulary that they need to communicate effectively. The school should ensure that staff have the training and expertise to provide meaningful opportunities to practise talking and communicating across all seven areas of learning.

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