Westlands First School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 February 2025

Pupils thrive at this nurturing and welcoming school. They are happy and safe. Pupils know that staff care about them and will help them if they feel worried or unhappy. The school recognises that some pupils and families face difficulties or issues in their lives. The school quickly and sensitively gives, and seeks out, help and support for these pupils and families. The school is determined that pupils are safe and well and ready to learn. This is a strength of the school and is at the heart of its ethos. Pupils, parents and carers value this. The school expects pupils to behave well. This starts in Nursery and Reception, where children learn to be kind and share. Pupils respond well to the school's high expectations of their behaviour. Pupils who find managing their behaviour more difficult receive the support they need. Strong relationships built on trust and care help pupils develop positive attitudes to school life. The school is ambitious for all its pupils. It wants pupils to do well at school and be ready for their next stage in education, and they are. Pupils enjoy their learning and want to learn.

What the school should improve

• The school does not ensure the teaching of handwriting is consistent. Poor letter formation, orientation and accuracy impacts on some pupils accurate recording of the knowledge and skills they have learned. The school should ensure its approach to the teaching of handwriting enables all pupils to write with accuracy and fluency.
• Some subject leaders have not yet had the opportunity to monitor and evaluate their subjects fully. This means the school cannot be sure how well pupils are doing and what is working well in some subjects. The school should put in place appropriate measures to enable subject leaders to check how well pupils are learning.

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