New Bolsover Primary and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 14 May 2024

Pupils speak proudly about their school, saying that they are 'one big community'. They say that they feel safe at school because staff 'care and look after us'. Pupils understand how to seek help if they have any worries, confident that staff will listen and respond. Pupils appreciate the recent improvements to the outdoor spaces. These areas have been exceptionally well developed to provide exciting and imaginative play experiences for pupils of all ages. This includes the field, the multi-level playgrounds, the sensory garden and a wide range of other well-planned zones. This aspect of the school's provision supports pupils' physical, social and emotional needs very well. Pupils typically behave well, in lessons and around school. On occasion, a small number of pupils struggle to regulate their behaviour. When this happens, staff step in quickly and kindly to provide appropriate support. Pupils and staff say that the many recent improvements at the school have had a positive impact on behaviour. The school is in the process of reintroducing after-school activities and sports events following the pandemic. There is a plan to increase these opportunities over time. Standards of pupils' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics are improving.

What the school should improve

• As a result of the recent changes to governance, half of the non-staff governors are newly appointed. They have limited experience and understanding of their role. They do not currently have the knowledge and expertise to express an ambitious vision for the school and to robustly hold leaders to account for the school's performance. Governors should develop a secure understanding of their role and duties and enact these effectively so that they can hold the school to account for the quality of education provided for pupils.
• The recent improvements to the early years curriculum and environment are still in the early stages of implementation. The school is in the process of revising its approach to assessing children's learning and development. The school should ensure that the early years curriculum is refined and embedded so that it is coherently planned and sequenced and systematically assessed to build on what children know and can do, thus providing a secure foundation for future learning.

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