Cavendish Close Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Teaching is very effective in the Nursery and Reception classes and this ensures that children develop an early enthusiasm for learning.

Pupils from all backgrounds are warmly welcomed and those who need the most help are well supported. Pupils behave well and have positive attitudes to their work. They know how to keep themselves and their friends safe.

Pupils make good overall progress from their different starting points. When they leave the school their standards are broadly in line with national averages. Senior staff and subject leaders are well focused on improving teaching and learning.

Teamwork in the school is strong a...nd staff work well together to ensure that pupils are supported well personally and in their learning. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Not enough pupils reach the higher levels in their work because sometimes tasks are too easy for them. There are inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and the level of challenge for pupils in Years 1 and 2.

Sometimes the introductions to lessons are too long which limits the time pupils have to develop and practise their skills. The checks made on the work of the school are not always thorough enough to identify areas for further improvement.

Information about this school

This is a larger than the average-sized infant school.

Children join the Reception classes from the school's Nursery and from other settings. The number of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium matches the national average. This provides additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals.

The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs identified at school action is slightly above average. The proportion of pupils supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is just below average. About 10% of pupils are from minority ethnic groups, with about half of these speaking English as an additional language.