Ofsted report - 21st May 2008

Overall effectiveness of the school
Grade, 2

Nettlestone is a good school. This is due to the excellent leadership of the headteacher, the overall efficiency of the management and the outstanding quality of pastoral care provided for pupils. A very supportive atmosphere for learning exists that ensures the pupils make good progress and achieve well. As one parent wrote "Nettlestone primary is a fantastic school and I feel privileged to be sending my children there. Good behaviour and manners are instilled and it shows in all children. This school rocks!"

Reception children start with skills and understanding that are in line with, or just above, expectations for their age. They get a good start to their education and achieve very well. By the time, they enter Year 1 they are very confident and have excellent relationships with one another. Thanks to the care shown by all adults, pupils of all abilities continue to make good progress throughout the school. Careful analysis and planning enables pupils consistently to reach well above average standards in national tests. By the time pupils leave school, records show they achieve well above expectations for their age. Pupils with learning difficulties benefit from well focused support and make good progress; most attain average standards.

Teaching and learning are good and many lessons really sparkle. Observations and assessments of what the pupils know and can do are collected well and shared with all concerned. Lessons are well planned and based on trying to make sure that all pupils enjoy learning. However, the school is working hard to address the inconsistencies in the progress the pupils make as they move through the school. This is because of the variation in the quality of teaching. In most classes, teachers' presentation is lively and moves learning along at a good pace. The appropriateness of the work offered to pupils in these lessons is very good, but these best features are not always seen in all classes. Occasionally, the teaching, although satisfactory, does not provide consistent challenge. On these very few occasions, pupils' progress slows. By providing good quality help from very well qualified teaching assistants wherever it is needed, the least able and most vulnerable pupils make very good progress.

The excellent climate for learning enables pupils to achieve an outstanding standard of personal development. Pupils are cared for exceptionally well and all of them, including the most vulnerable, are safe and secure. The rich curriculum covers all subjects well. It has been amended recently to provide exciting challenges throughout the school. Commendably, staff constantly review the delivery of the curriculum so as to ensure pupils are enthused. The curriculum is enhanced by a very good range of additional activities.

The headteacher provides first-rate leadership. She is very ably supported by the assistant headteacher. All staff and developments are driven forward at a good pace. Strengths and weaknesses are speedily identified because the school has good systems for monitoring its work, in which the governing body plays a key role. Teamwork is excellent. The school has improved significantly from its sound position at the time of the last inspection. The capacity to continue to improve is excellent.

link to full report on Ofsted web site