DELL Primary School is at the heart of the community and provides pupils with a good standard of education, an Ofsted report has stated.The school in Dell Road, Lowestoft, received a mixture of good and outstanding grades, which highlighted the excellent curriculum and the links made between all subjects.

DELL Primary School is at the heart of the community and provides pupils with a good standard of education, an Ofsted report has stated.

The school in Dell Road, Lowestoft, received a mixture of good and outstanding grades, which highlighted the excellent curriculum and the links made between all subjects.

The report noted that when children arrive at the nursery their skills are much lower than expected, but they make good progress.

“The foundation stage leader has sound plans to improve the overall assessment and recording of children's progress. The good curriculum provides an appropriate balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities,” said inspectors.

National assessment for pupils at the end of year two in 2007 showed an improvement on the two previous years, with attainment above average for writing, and broadly average in reading and maths.

Overall the standards reached in the current year four are in line with the national expectations.

The children are seen to show great consideration for those less fortunate than themselves and frequently raise funds for needy causes both within the community and further afield. The school council also has a high degree of responsibility.

“There is a very high level of participation in a particularly wide range of sporting activities in the school's spacious and well-maintained grounds. Pupils show good aptitude in art, music and drama where they have been proud to represent their school in performances,” said the report.

Strengths in teaching lie in the detailed planning of work to match specific learning needs, while the curriculum was seen to have several outstanding features helping pupils to develop well socially and emotionally.

“Very good links are made across subjects and these help pupils to se how skills learned in one area can be transferred to another.

“A highlight of the day, which pupils eagerly look forward to, is the inclusion in the timetable of a short lesson where pupils work in small groups on specific areas of need,” it read.

Inspectors also praised the way ICT is used to motivate pupils and develop independence and the small class unit for pupils with learning difficulties.”

The headteacher Beryl Hindes was seen to have a strong, clearly focused leadership, supported by a dedicated senior team and committed governing body.

“There is a real sense of teamwork throughout the school and emphasis on planning across year groups is successful in bringing about improvements,” said inspectors.

The school has been asked to implement the plans to provide a cover in the outdoor area to enable children in the foundation stage to take part in more outdoor activities and refine the systems for checking on the progress pupils make to enable teachers and governors to keep a closer eye on how well children are doing as they move through school.

Mrs Hindes said: “Inspectors were at great pains to point out the extraordinary high level of parental replies which were unprecedented and in full support of the school and the work it does.

“Curriculum and other activities were judged as outstanding. This, the school feels is due to the commitment in ensuring a creative approach to the curriculum, which involves on experience and understanding.”

She said they were looking forward to putting up an all weather shelter to enable foundation stage children access to outdoor play throughout the year.