Clover Hill VA Infant and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The executive headteacher provides clear, determined and skilled leadership. She is well supported by a very strong team of senior leaders.

Consequently, pupils receive a high-quality education. The early years provision is outstanding. From the moment children join the school their needs are accurately identified.

Children make outstanding progress, often from very low starting points. Pupils make significant progress throughout key stage 1. By the time that they reach the end of Year 2, their attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is frequently higher than that of pupils with similar starting points nationally.

...Teaching is consistently very effective. Teachers plan and deliver learning that motivates pupils and develops knowledge and skills quickly. Teachers are very well supported by the high-quality team of teaching assistants.

Governors have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's strengths and weaknesses. They provide leaders with highly effective support and challenge. Leaders and governors ensure that pupils enjoy a broad, balanced and very effective range of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Staff are proud to work at the school and are very grateful for the many training and development opportunities that are open to them. Staff morale is high. Leaders ensure that pupils are well looked after and that they are kept safe.

Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength of the school. Pupils' behaviour is excellent. They respond very well to the high expectations of all staff.

Pupils enjoy learning and are very proud of their achievements. Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported. Their additional funding is used very effectively, and this ensures that they make strong progress.

Leaders work successfully to ensure that pupils attend school regularly. Overall attendance has risen rapidly. However, the attendance of children in Reception is still lower than that of pupils in key stage 1.

Middle leaders receive high-quality support. However, some of them are new to their roles and are not yet as highly effective as their more experienced colleagues. Pupils are not always challenged at a consistently high level in other subjects as they are in English and mathematics.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized infant and nursery school. The early years provision consists of two part-time Nursery classes and two full-time Reception classes. The school is in a federation with St Michael's Junior School.

The two schools share an executive headteacher and governing body. The executive headteacher also provides formal support to a third school, which is not a part of the federation. The proportions of disadvantaged pupils, those with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language are above the national averages.

The school is designated as having a religious character. It belongs to the Diocese of Norwich. In its most recent section 48 inspection for Anglican and Methodist schools, in July 2016, it was judged to be outstanding.