Brookside Community Primary School, located in Street, Somerset, has been recognized as a good school following its inspection on November 1 and 2, 2023. The school is known for its inclusive environment, where pupils from mainstream and specially resourced provisions for those with special educational needs and disabilities learn and play together harmoniously. Students express a sense of belonging, stating that they can be themselves and feel accepted for who they are. The respectful interactions among staff and pupils contribute to a happy and safe atmosphere, encouraging regular attendance and engagement in a variety of curricular and extracurricular activities.
The school offers numerous enrichment opportunities, allowing pupils to showcase their learning to parents and carers during sharing assemblies. Responsibilities such as house captains and participation in community events, like hosting a Christmas party for local residents, help prepare pupils to become active citizens. The personal development curriculum effectively fosters emotional awareness and independence, equipping pupils with essential life skills, including understanding healthy relationships and cooking nutritious meals.
Brookside provides a calm and purposeful learning environment, with recent improvements in curriculum, behavior policies, and staff training leading to positive outcomes. The reduction in behavior incidents reflects the staff's deep understanding of their pupils, which they leverage to support social and emotional development. The school successfully integrates pupils who have been excluded from other settings, ensuring they receive a full-time education.
Significant changes have been made to the specialist curriculum and provision for pupils with complex needs. These students follow tailored learning pathways, with staff receiving training to better identify and support additional needs within the mainstream setting. In the early years and specially resourced provision, there is a strong emphasis on developing communication and language skills, with effective strategies in place to promote early language development.
The phonics program is well-structured, enabling children to learn to read with increasing accuracy. Teachers are quick to identify those needing additional support, providing timely interventions to enhance phonics knowledge. The curriculum is designed to help pupils retain knowledge over time, although some subjects are not implemented as intended, leading to gaps in essential knowledge. For instance, Reception Year pupils struggle with number recognition, impacting their ability to recall number bonds in Year 1.
Pupils demonstrate an understanding of fundamental British values, engaging in discussions about democracy, tolerance, and justice. They approach topics related to different cultures and religions with maturity. The school collaborates effectively with parents and external agencies to address attendance barriers, ensuring that pupils are present and engaged in their education.
Leaders and governors possess a comprehensive understanding of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. Staff appreciate the support and professional development opportunities provided. The safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring a safe environment for all pupils. However, the school must focus on improving the implementation of its curriculum in certain subjects to ensure that all pupils can build on prior learning and make meaningful connections between concepts. This will help ensure that pupils know more, can do more, and remember more of what they have learned. Overall, Brookside Community Primary School continues to provide a supportive and enriching educational experience for its pupils.
