Westfield Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 30 January 2024

Pupils are positive about the changes leaders are making at this school. They are enjoying getting to know new staff. Children in early years make a successful start to school life. Pupils are keen to talk about their favourite lessons and the books they have read. They know that adults want to help them succeed. However, pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), do need more specific help to achieve fully what they are capable of. Pupils like the fact that playtimes are now organised into play zones and quiet areas. They know that this has helped to improve behaviour. However, pupils are concerned that some pupils can still be unkind. Pupils know that adults do address this, yet there remain instances where unwelcome behaviours continue. Pupils benefit from a range of opportunities to broaden their horizons, such as residential trips and visits linked to the curriculum. Pupils enjoy singing together. Pupils are excited to sing at a national arena and a cathedral. Older pupils learn to play an instrument. Pupils can become kindness ambassadors or librarians or be elected to the school council. There is a variety of clubs, such as choir, football, rock band and art. Year groups take it in turns to participate in sports events and forest school sessions.

What the school should improve

• Checks on what pupils have learned and can recall are not robust enough. Staff are not precisely aware of the exact gaps that pupils have in order to best tailor support or set work that is well matched to pupils' ability. This means that some pupils have gaps in learning that remain or complete work that they are already capable of doing. The school needs to ensure that there are rigorous checks in place to ensure that new learning is built on secure foundations, and work is well matched to extend knowledge for all pupils.
• Pupils with SEND do not have activities precisely adapted for their needs. This limits how successfully they can achieve confidently and independently. Staff need to set work that is well adapted and have high expectations for pupils with SEND. The school needs to provide additional support to staff so that they know how best to do this.
• There remain incidents of unwelcome behaviours and low-level disruption. This means that pupils cannot fully concentrate on learning or feel unsettled. The school needs to ensure that staff understand how to apply the new behaviour policy and strategies consistently so that pupils behave consistently well.

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