Bishops Waltham Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils are joyful and successful in this innovative infant school. Expectations from the start of early years are high, with no ceiling put on aspirations for all.

Pupils rise to meet these expectations, achieving exceptionally well across the curriculum. Pupils who are disadvantaged, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), receive high-quality support to enjoy great success alongside their peers.

Behaviour is exemplary.

Pupils are impeccably polite, compassionate, and respectful. They help each other to act with kindness by celebrating fellow pupils using the school's well-embedded 'badger values'. The school's work on 'hea...lthy hearts and minds' ensures that well-being is highly prioritised.

Pupils love their school and feel great about themselves, giving them energy to try their best and embrace new learning.

This school strives to make the world a better place. Pupils raise money for charities, embrace diversity and celebrate different cultures through well-designed curriculum and assembly activities.

Pupils begin to be mindful in early years and develop impressive confidence and resilience by the end of Year 2. The school's 'Trickbox' programme teaches everyone to follow the 'ABCD' of 'accept, be, choose and do'. As a result, pupils gradually take responsibility for their learning and the world around them.

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

The curriculum has been skilfully developed and adapted to engage and excite pupils. All subjects are carefully planned with precise knowledge, skills and key vocabulary. Everyone shares the same high regard and rigour to help all pupils learn to read well.

Reading is at the heart of the school's work. Phonics teaching starts expertly in early years. Catch-up sessions ensure that struggling readers and pupils who are disadvantaged have the help they need, reading precisely matched books to practise sounds they find difficult.

Pupils achieve superbly with phonics by the end of Year 1. They learn to become fluent, confident and ambitious readers who love books.

Professional development for staff is prioritised.

As a result, teachers plan, design and teach activities that support and challenge pupils well. Teachers ensure that discussion times give pupils opportunities to think, reflect and share. Lessons include recall activities to help pupils remember their learning over time, so they can make impressive connections when discussing their studies.

Pupils love seeing their efforts celebrated, and beam with pride when their parents visit to see the learning outcomes at the end of projects.

In wider subjects, pupils become accomplished artists, historians and scientists. Staff capture every opportunity to extend pupils' learning.

There are no barriers or limits for pupils. Transition work with local pre-school settings is excellent. School staff identify how they can help children with SEND to thrive in early years as soon as they join.

Across the school, teachers routinely check for gaps in pupils' knowledge. Strong communication between staff helps them to identify individual needs. Provision is reviewed with parents, pupils and staff, so everyone works together to help pupils with SEND.

Visual aids and language prompts help them to access the same tasks alongside their peers. The rich learning environment contains resources readily accessible for pupils to access independently. In early years, children show sustained concentration and develop their early reading and mathematics skills quickly.

Achievement is exceptional by the end of Year 2. Pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is significantly higher than the national average.

Learning behaviour is brilliant across the school.

Classrooms are purposeful and industrious, and well-being is highly prioritised. Some pupils benefit from extra emotional support. Mental health expertise across the staff team ensures that pastoral care is exceptional.

Pupils move around school with great thought and care, holding doors open for others and sharing gratitude.

Pupils learn about global diversity in assemblies and lessons. Highlights include work on Hinduism, Maori culture, Africa and Chinese New Year.

Leaders ensure that the curriculum continues to evolve to help pupils prepare for life in modern Britain. Pupils learn about healthy relationships, online safety and anti-bullying. Talents and skills are nurtured further through active experiences such as swimming, gymnastics, dance and football.

Pupils who are disadvantaged benefit from funded places in clubs, so nobody misses out. Teachers offer popular lunchtime clubs including art, sewing, construction and choir. Pupils love the theatre experiences and are proud to welcome visitors such as an author who shared his experience of foster care.

Leaders are dedicated, inspirational and reflective. Morale is buoyant across the passionate, highly skilled staff team. Governors show expertise and diligence when monitoring the school's work.

They offer superb support and challenge to help leaders fulfil their high ambition. As a result of the excellent shared practice and values of leaders, governors, and staff, pupils thrive in this exceptional school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Also at this postcode