Barnett Wood Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils thrive at this highly inclusive school.

Pupils understand and model the school's values, such as being resilient and aspirational, wonderfully. Older pupils love the responsibilities that they hold at school, such as eco, reading and well-being leaders. Pupils are kind and respectful towards each other.

From the start of the early years, pupils learn the school's routines and expectations strongly. Pupils understand British values and how these relate to their lives inside and outside of school. Pupils develop confidence and care for each other impressively.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. Pupils respond well to the warm and caring provision from staff... throughout the setting. Staff apply the school's behaviour policy consistently and fairly.

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified quickly. The school works closely with families and external agencies, such as speech and language therapists, where necessary, to ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support that they need.

Staff have the highest expectations for what pupils can achieve.

Pupils take great pride in reaching these expectations. Pupils achieve highly across all areas of the curriculum, including reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils feel included, safe and happy.

Pupils are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage of education.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The curriculum is highly ambitious. The school has identified the key knowledge and skills that it wants children to learn.

Learning is set out logically, building on pupils' prior knowledge and helping pupils to reach ambitious end points. Lessons build pupils' knowledge and skills consistently well. For example, in science, pupils wrote about animals and labelled diagrams, identifying herbivores, carnivores and features of mammals clearly.

In geography, pupils developed their mapping skills and understanding of routes and locations well. Staff have strong subject knowledge. Staff check pupils' understanding robustly.

Staff revisit learning to ensure pupils know and remember more. If pupils are unsure about their learning, staff adapt lessons skilfully so that pupils' knowledge is secure.

Reading is prioritised at the school.

The school's approach to phonics and early reading is taught consistently and highly effectively. Children begin their phonics learning from the start of the Reception Year. Staff use their phonics training expertly.

If any pupils fall behind, they receive the help they need and catch up with their peers quickly. Reading books that pupils use to help them learn to read are matched closely to the sounds that they know. Pupils read enthusiastically and love the stories that staff share with them.

Pupils apply their phonics knowledge to their writing successfully. For example, pupils wrote about 'the murky river' and a visit to an aquarium with skill and confidence. Pupils' written work is consistently of a high quality.

Disadvantaged pupils, including pupils with SEND, achieve exceptionally well.

In early years, children build their learning effectively from their starting points. Staff develop children's communication and language through a carefully designed curriculum.

Children build knowledge and vocabulary across the areas of learning. For example, children were celebrating and learning about festivals and Diwali in the creative and home corner areas. They could talk about their Mendi and Rangoli patterns confidently.

Children explore traditional stories, rhymes and songs regularly, with joy and enthusiasm.

The school goes beyond the expected to develop pupils' character and resilience. Lessons in the outdoor swimming pool equip pupils with important life-saving skills.

School trips and visiting speakers enhance the curriculum and help pupils' learning to be memorable. The school's personal, social and health education curriculum is particularly strong. The school's values and 'Barnett Wood Way' have a powerful impact on pupils' understanding of concepts such as kindness and aspiration.

Pupils try their best and persevere when they face challenges or setbacks. Pupils learn how to be respectful, responsible citizens.

The school provides a comprehensive range of opportunities to develop pupils' talents and interests.

Clubs such as gymnastics, choir, football, drumming and yoga are appreciated and highly valued by pupils, parents and carers. Sporting opportunities, such as competitive inter-school sports events for pupils with SEND, are carefully considered. Pupils develop self-belief through their own achievements and celebrate their friends' achievements just as positively.

Governors know the strengths of the school. They understand their roles and responsibilities. They support and challenge leaders and maintain the highest aspirations for all pupils.

Staff are proud to work at the school. They feel supported with their workload and well-being. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive.

Parents appreciate the dedication to each child shown across the whole staff team. One parent summarised the thoughts of many others, saying, 'I couldn't be happier with the school.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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