Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 June 2022

Holmfirth Junior Infant and Nursery is a caring school that is very well regarded by the community. Staff have high expectations of all pupils. Pupils say that they are proud of their school and that they enjoy attending. They told the inspector that they feel safe and trust the adults to look after them. Pupils understand what bullying is and the different forms it can take. They confirm that bullying rarely happens. The support leaders provide for pupils' personal development is a strength of the school. Leaders ensure that pupils have a clear awareness and appreciation of diversity. A carefully structured curriculum for personal, social and health education develops pupils' understanding of healthy relationships. As a result, pupils are clear how to manage risks and keep themselves safe. Pupils conduct themselves sensibly around school. There is a calm and purposeful atmosphere in classrooms. Typically, pupils behave well in lessons. Most listen carefully and work hard. They have positive attitudes to learning. Parents praise the school's efforts to develop pupils as individuals, as well as responsible and active citizens. One parent, whose opinions represented the views of many, said 'the school is a magical place where the decisions that are made centre the child at the heart'.

What the school should improve

• At times, pupils with SEND have not secured the knowledge and skills they need before moving on to new learning. Leaders should identify the essential knowledge and skills they want all pupils with SEND to learn and be secure with before moving on. This will enable teachers to check that pupils with SEND remember the essential subject content in order to be ready for future learning.
• The quality of pupils' work is too variable. Leaders' expectations of pupils recorded work are not consistently applied. This leads to pupils making unnecessary mistakes. These mistakes leads to misconceptions that are not always addressed as teachers are unable to read accurately the recorded work. Leaders need to make sure that in all lessons, all pupils, at all times, take the care and attention needed to produce the quality work leaders expect.

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