Chatsworth Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Leaders want pupils to enjoy learning and pupils clearly do. Pupils told us how much they like coming to school.

They live up to the school's motto: 'We work hard, and we play hard.'

The school has lots of exciting outside spaces which fire pupils' imagination. Pupils explore nature in the woodland areas and the school's 'cave'.

The inviting library even has a palm tree under which pupils can gather together and share books.

Leaders have high aspirations for the school and high expectations of all pupils. Displays of pupils' work celebrate the rich experiences that the school's leaders provide.

Pupils told us that their teachers take care o...f them and help them to achieve well. Parents and carers agreed that this is a special feature of the school.

Pupils behave well and care about others.

They respond well to adults' instructions. This means that the school has a calm feel to it. Pupils rarely experience bullying.

Staff make sure that pupils know what to do if it does occur. Leaders and staff take care of any incidents of unkind behaviour. Leaders urge parents to bring their children to school regularly and on time.

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

Subject leaders ensure that teachers know what knowledge they want pupils to learn. They make sure that teaching typically enables all pupils to develop this knowledge. The headteacher and the trust provide subject leaders with exceptional levels of support.

This means that subject leaders skilfully develop their areas of responsibility. They know what they need to do to improve the quality of education further. For example, they are supporting teachers to further strengthen the learning of new subject content and creative use of resources.

Children in the early years get off to a strong start in reading. Teachers use assessment information to decide what phonics knowledge to teach next and how to teach it. Staff give parents helpful advice so that they can support their children's reading at home.

In Years 1 and 2, teachers help pupils to choose books which match the phonics sounds that they are learning. However, we found that some pupils' reading books include too many words that they cannot read accurately or confidently. This holds pupils back, particularly those pupils who find it hard to learn to read.

Pupils develop a wide vocabulary. They use a dictionary or thesaurus to look up unfamiliar words or find a better word for what they want to say.

In mathematics, leaders and staff are clear about what knowledge pupils should remember by the end of Year 2.

Teachers know what content to teach and the order in which to teach it. Pupils know their times tables and understand the place value of numbers. As a result, pupils achieve highly in mathematics.

In subjects such as art and history, pupils build their knowledge and skills well. For example, Year 2 pupils told us that the artist Seurat created paintings using dots of colour. In history, pupils discuss and recall important information.

For instance, pupils learning about the Great Fire of London debated how the lives of Londoners were different then compared with the present day.

Occasionally, teachers do not bear in mind the subject content that pupils have learned already. This means that pupils sometimes complete tasks that do not deepen their knowledge as effectively as they should.

The early years is an inspiring place for children to learn and play. Activities are carefully planned to ensure that all children achieve to the very best of their abilities. This includes disadvantaged children and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

As soon as children join the school, staff help them to concentrate and do things for themselves. They expect children to be curious and ask questions. Children persevere with demanding work because staff provide lots of encouragement.

In Years 1 and 2, pupils' attitudes in lessons continue to be excellent. Pupils pay attention and are keen to do their best.

Pupils' personal development is exceptionally well taken care of.

Leaders organise plenty of educational visits and activities to encourage pupils to find out about the world they live in. They teach pupils about difference and explain why it is important to treat everyone equally.

Governors and trust members ask leaders challenging questions to find out how well all pupils achieve, including disadvantaged pupils.

Senior leaders make sure that staff have a say in what the school should do to improve. Leaders consider the well-being and workload of colleagues carefully when they make decisions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Governors and trustees carry out regular and thorough checks to see how well staff understand and follow safeguarding guidance. Teachers know about different risks and what school leaders expect them to do if they have any concerns about pupils' well-being.

Leaders are thorough when checking things are safe for pupils.

They listen to what pupils say worries them and act quickly to provide reassurance.

Teachers use subject teaching to make sure pupils remember what they have been taught about keeping themselves safe. They build pupils' knowledge of important safeguarding issues, such as keeping their personal details safe when using the internet.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

Teachers give some pupils who are still learning to read in Years 1 and 2 reading books which include too many words that they cannot read accurately. This means that these pupils find it hard to read fluently and confidently. Subject leaders should make sure that teachers provide all pupils with reading books that match their phonics abilities.

. Sometimes, pupils complete tasks that repeat what they have already learned. Therefore, across the full range of subjects, leaders should ensure that teachers take account of the subject content that pupils have already learned and build on what pupils already know and can do.