Holmgate Primary School and Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 June 2023

Pupils are well cared for at Holmgate Primary School and Nursery. They know that their teachers are there to help them. Pupils 'check in' every morning so that they can let staff know how they are feeling. Pupils who say that they are 'not feeling great' have the opportunity to speak to a member of staff. This helps pupils to manage their feelings so that they are ready to learn. Leaders are ambitious that all pupils will succeed both personally and academically. Pupils are encouraged to 'let your light shine'. Pupils know that teachers expect them to work hard and behave well. In lessons, they pay close attention and participate fully in their learning. They show respect towards adults and one another. Their positive attitudes continue at social times. They play well together and stick to the zones for different activities. They know that this is to keep them safe. Children in the early years get off to an exceptional start. Every learning activity is purposeful. Pupils show high levels of concentration and enjoyment as they work and play. Staff take every opportunity to extend children's learning. They say that 'every day counts, there is not a minute to lose'.

What the school should improve

• In a very small number of subjects, curriculum plans do not identify the small steps of learning that pupils need to make as they work towards the overall learning intention. It is not always clear how new learning builds on prior learning and pupils struggle to remember what they have learned beyond the most recent lessons. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum plans precisely identify the key knowledge that pupils are expected to learn.
• Assessment in subjects other than English and mathematics is not fully developed. Gaps in pupils' learning are not consistently identified or addressed. Leaders should ensure that an effective approach to checking what pupils know and can do in these subjects is developed so that teachers can accurately identify what pupils have learned and can remember.
• Not enough pupils with SEND attend school well. In addition, a very small number of pupils with SEND miss key learning in foundation subjects when they access nurture activities. This means that pupils with SEND have gaps in their learning. Leaders must take action to ensure that pupils with SEND attend well and that every pupil with SEND has access to all of the curriculum alongside providing vital support to meet pupils' social and emotional needs.

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