Homer First School and Nursery

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 June 2026

At Homer First School and Nursery, everyone shares the vision that 'When we work hard and we are kind, amazing things happen.' Pupils enjoy coming to school and feel known and cared for. They develop a sense of belonging within this close-knit community. Pupils feel safe, trust adults to help them and understand how to keep themselves safe, including online. Pupils behave well in lessons and around the school. Clear routines and expectations create a calm environment where pupils treat each other with respect and kindness. This includes children in the early years, who settle quickly and follow established routines. Bullying and derogatory language are rare. Many pupils attend regularly. Staff build positive relationships with families and act quickly when pupils are absent. However, leaders do not analyse attendance information closely enough to make sure that it improves for all pupils, particularly those who need the most support. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged, receive support that typically removes barriers to learning and wellbeing. This enables them to take part in school life. In the Homer Hub, staff support pupils effectively so that they engage confidently in learning. Pupils enjoy breaktimes and play cooperatively, organising their own games and including others. They take pride in contributing to school life. Younger pupils care for resources and outdoor spaces, while older pupils take on roles such as school or eco council representatives. Clubs, visits and trips broaden pupils’ experiences. Pupils enjoy their learning and talk about what they know. However, learning does not always build securely on pupils’ prior knowledge or deepen their understanding. Pupils do not consistently use accurate vocabulary or present their work well across subjects, so the quality of work varies across the curriculum.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should ensure lesson activities enable all pupils to build securely on prior learning, deepen their understanding over time and produce consistently high-quality work across the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that staff skilfully identify and address any misconceptions in pupils' transcription skills so that all pupils apply their writing skills securely across the curriculum.
• Leaders should ensure that staff in the early years use consistent, high-quality interactions to maximise learning opportunities across all areas of provision.
• Leaders should continue to implement and evaluate their attendance strategy to secure consistently high attendance for pupils, including those who are disadvantaged.

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