Plaistow Hill Primary and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 April 2022

Pupils are happy at Plaistow Hill Infant and Nursery School. From Nursery to Year 2, leaders ensure that pupils enjoy an interesting curriculum. This is enhanced by a variety of after-school activities, such as recorder club and a range of sports. Staff expect pupils to behave well and work hard, and they do. Children in early years, including two-year-olds, settle quickly and follow teachers' instructions carefully. Pupils in key stage 1 are confident, listen to each other, share and take turns. They are polite and well mannered. Pupils are keen to learn and collaborate well together. Staff are kind, calm and encouraging. Pupils say that bullying is very rare and, when it does occur, teachers sort it out quickly. Consequently, children build positive relationships with one another and with the adults around them. Parents and carers praise the work of the school. Staff are trained well to help pupils manage their feelings. They take great pride in their work to support pupils' social and emotional well-being. One parent expressed the views of many with the comment, 'The atmosphere and attitude of all the staff is incredible.'

What the school should improve

• Teachers equip pupils with the important knowledge that they need to spell accurately, such as spelling rules and patterns. However, some pupils do not use this knowledge in their extended writing. Too often, they spell words incorrectly and teachers do not address this swiftly. This means that pupils go through school with a growing number of misconceptions in their spelling. Leaders need to assure themselves that there is a high-quality writing curriculum in place, so that pupils learn to spell correctly.
• The curriculum is implemented in every subject. However, some aspects need refinement to ensure that knowledge sticks as well as leaders intend. Some ideas, such as the use of knowledge organisers in history, are not having the desired impact in improving pupils' understanding. Leaders need to ensure that teachers use the insights they have gained from assessments to make suitable adaptations to the curriculum.

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