A primary school in Burnley, where children are confident readers and follow the school rules, has retained its ‘good’ Ofsted rating.

Heasandford Primary School on Williams Road was found to be good in all areas, during its inspection in March.  

The well-being of pupils is said to be “at the heart of the school”. The report added that pupils feel safe and happy, due to the positive relationships children have with staff.

Teachers try to promote positive mental health at the school and children use a “worry box” to share their concerns with staff.

The school has high expectations of its pupils, including the children that it serves. It has high expectations for pupils. This includes the many pupils who speak English as an additional language, and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). 

Children at the school are said to follow the rules well.

The report said: “The school’s expectations for behaviour are clearly understood by all pupils, including children in the early years.

“Pupils follow the rules consistently well in lessons and when moving around the school. The school provides effective support to pupils who need help to manage their emotions.”

Ofsted inspectors also praised the school’s “rich and ambitious” curriculum, which has changed since the last inspection in 2018.

The report said: “Since the last inspection, the school has made changes to some subject curriculums. The key knowledge that pupils should learn and when they should learn it is clearly identified, starting from the early years.

“Staff deliver this ambitious curriculum consistently. In most subjects, pupils achieve well.

“Pupils benefit from a rich, ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6.

"Staff use assessment information effectively to check what pupils know and to identify what they should learn next, in most subjects.”

According to Ofsted, the school can accurately identify the additional needs of pupils with SEND.

The report said: “Staff act on advice from other professionals and make effective adaptations to the delivery of the curriculum.

“This helps pupils with SEND to learn the same curriculum as their peers. Pupils with SEND are well prepared for the next stage of their education.”

The school is also said to prioritise reading. Pupils were said to read widely and often. The school helps parents to extend their children’s reading skills at home.

Children, including those with SEND, are helped to become “confident and fluent readers” thanks to the changes made to the teaching of reading at the school.

The report said: “Over the last two years, the school has made changes to the teaching of reading.

"The school helps pupils to learn phonics quickly from when they first start in school.

"This includes pupils who join the school in later years, many of whom are new to the country.

“The school checks that children are progressing well through the reading programme and provides effective support for less confident readers.

“This means that most pupils, including those with SEND, become confident, fluent readers by the end of key stage one.”

The school also has high expectations for pupils’ attendance, ensuring parents understand the negative impact that extended absences during term time can have on pupils’ learning.

According to Ofsted, staff well-being was considered when introducing changes to the curriculum.

“Governors fulfill their responsibilities well,” the report said.

“They provide effective challenge and support to improve the school further. The school has considered staff’s well-being when introducing changes to the curriculum.

“This includes seeking staff’s views and providing support and guidance to reduce unnecessary workload.”

The report also highlighted an area where the school could improve, including spotting gaps in pupils learning in a “small number” of subjects.

The report said: “In these subjects, some pupils do not have a secure foundation on which to build new learning.”