Harwich Community Primary School and Nursery was inspected on the 3rd and 4th of October 2023, receiving an overall effectiveness rating of good. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision, all rated as good. The school has maintained its previous inspection grade of good, reflecting its consistent performance.
Pupils at Harwich Community Primary School express happiness and enthusiasm for their learning environment. They are motivated by various incentives, such as Attendance Ted and Flamingo Bingo, which encourage regular attendance. The school prioritizes the well-being of its students, ensuring that they feel supported by both adults and peers. The school rules emphasize safety, responsibility, and kindness, which pupils adhere to diligently. Leadership roles, such as prefects and diversity champions, empower students to contribute positively to the school community and develop essential life skills.
The school has designed a curriculum that outlines what pupils will learn, breaking down knowledge into manageable steps and sequencing it effectively. This approach aids in building pupils' knowledge over time. However, there are some subjects where the school has not clearly identified the key concepts and knowledge that need to be revisited, which can hinder pupils' ability to connect new learning with prior knowledge. Staff conduct regular assessments to identify gaps in learning and provide targeted support to help pupils progress.
Reading is a significant focus across the school, starting in the nursery, where children are introduced to stories, songs, and rhymes to enhance their vocabulary. Staff are well-trained to support early reading development, ensuring that pupils understand the meaning of the words they encounter. The school is proactive in identifying pupils who struggle with reading and provides the necessary support to help them become confident readers.
The school effectively identifies pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they receive appropriate support to access the curriculum alongside their peers. Focused interventions are in place to help these pupils make progress toward their targets. The school fosters a culture of kindness and respect, with pupils demonstrating courteous behavior towards one another and adults. Opportunities for personal development, such as performing at a local theater, encourage pupils to explore their talents and step outside their comfort zones.
Leadership at all levels is ambitious for pupils, with a strong emphasis on improving attendance, which has seen significant success. However, some areas of the curriculum require more thorough monitoring to ensure consistent quality across all subjects. Staff express pride in their work and appreciate the support provided by the school. The school maintains positive engagement with parents, who generally express satisfaction with the education their children receive.
The governing body plays a crucial role in supporting staff well-being and managing workloads effectively. Safeguarding arrangements are deemed effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. To improve further, the school needs to refine its curriculum in certain subjects by clearly identifying essential knowledge and vocabulary for pupils to remember. This will help ensure that lessons build on prior learning and that assessments are closely linked to the identified knowledge. Additionally, enhancing the monitoring of pupil learning across all year groups will provide the school with the necessary information to implement improvements effectively. Overall, Harwich Community Primary School and Nursery demonstrates a strong commitment to providing a nurturing and effective educational experience for its pupils.
