Swan Lane First School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 March 2023

Pupils enjoy taking part in a broad range of activities at Swan Lane First School. They attend a variety of after-school clubs. Some take up leadership roles as eco- warriors or digital leaders. Pupils are fully involved and take an active part in making decisions about the school. Leaders expect all pupils to access a broad and balanced curriculum. Pupils study a good range of subjects and learn well. Teachers are skilled at adapting work for pupils, including for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). School trips, such as visits to places of worship, enrich pupils' learning. All this means that pupils are well prepared for the next phase of their education by the time they leave the school. The school is a calm and orderly place. Pupils behave consistently well in lessons. They are keen to succeed and work hard. Pupils treat each other and adults with respect. At social times, they play happily together. Staff provide a high quality of pastoral care and take effective steps to promote pupils' mental health. Pupils are happy at school and feel safe. They know they can talk to an adult if they have any concerns about incidents such as bullying. Staff promptly resolve any disagreements between pupils.

What the school should improve

• There is some variation in teachers' expertise. Sometimes, the tasks that teachers set do not help pupils build on prior learning as well as leaders expect. Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well.
• The range of texts that the school provides for some pupils is limited. As a result, pupils are not always as inspired and challenged as leaders expect. Leaders should ensure that pupils access a broad range of books and texts, including poetry, plays and non-fiction.

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