River Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 7 January 2025

Pupils love their inclusive and friendly school. They appreciate their teachers and know that all staff are there to help them. Pupils are proud to be a part of the River Primary School community. They contribute to the school and wider community with enthusiasm. For example, pupils relish opportunities to take on leadership roles such as school council and eco team representatives. The school expects pupils to work hard and behave well. Generally, pupils live up to these expectations and, as a result, achieve well. Pupils in some classes find it harder to settle down to work and maintain concentration. They sometimes chat during lessons, which is distracting for others. The school is working to address this. This year, play times have been enriched through carefully planned outdoor play provision. Pupils enjoy and benefit from the wide range of trips and experiences that the school plans for them. Experiences are carefully organised to enrich the curriculum. They support pupils to develop understanding and empathy around topical issues, such as immigration and migration. Pupils have ongoing opportunities to take part in sporting events and competitions. The school utilises these carefully to ensure that all pupils have opportunities to represent the school.

What the school should improve

• The school does not ensure that all pupils acquire the foundational skills in English that they need. This means that some pupils' writing and transcription slows their thinking and hinders them achieving as well as they could. The school should ensure that staff have the knowledge and expertise to address gaps in learning quickly and well so that all pupils can share their learning in writing across the curriculum.
• Teachers do not consistently adapt the school's planned curriculum to meet the needs of pupils with SEND. As a result, pupils are given work that they are not ready for, and which does not help to close key gaps in their learning. The school should ensure that all teachers are able to successfully adapt learning to meet the needs of all learners so that all pupils achieve the best possible outcomes.
• Staff are not consistently as responsive as they might be to pupils' behaviour that does not meet the school's expectations. This means that inattentive behaviour in classrooms and more boisterous behaviour on the playground are not always quickly noticed and addressed well enough. The school should ensure that the school's behaviour policy and processes are followed to consistently support pupils with their learning and play.

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