Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher, ably supported by the deputy headteacher, has transformed the school since 2016. Teaching, outcomes and behaviour have all improved under her effective and confident leadership. Leaders' evaluation of the school is honest and accurate.

They know the school's strengths and weaknesses and have put in place well-targeted action plans focused on improvement. Governors are well informed. They provide good levels of challenge and support, which contribute to school improvement.

The Central Schools Trust (CST), of which the school is a member, carefully monitors the school's performance and has provided significant coaching and ...training for leaders and staff. The curriculum is broad and balanced. Pupils develop their knowledge and skills in different subjects through interesting themes.

Teachers across the school support pupils in making good progress. Carefully tailored support is in place for disadvantaged pupils, and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Teachers plan learning that builds on what pupils already know and can do.

They develop pupils' language skills well. Phonic teaching is effective. Results in the Year 1 phonics screening check have risen consistently over the last three years and are now above average.

There is a strong safeguarding culture within the school. Staff know that safeguarding is 'everyone's responsibility' and know what action to take if they have any concerns. Leaders follow up any absences robustly.

As a result, attendance has improved. However, the number of pupils persistently absent remains above the national average. Pupils behave well in lessons and play happily together at breaktimes.

They are polite, friendly and helpful. Older pupils readily take on additional responsibilities to help others. Most pupils make good progress as they move through the school and attain the expected standards by the end of Year 2.

However, some disadvantaged pupils do not reach age-related standards in writing in key stage 1. Children in the early years get off to a strong start. Girls make particularly strong progress and reach age-related expectations.

However, boys do less well in reading and writing.

Information about this school

Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School became a sponsored academy with Central Schools Trust (CST) in August 2016. There is only one other school in the trust, Balsall Common Primary School, which is the lead school for the trust.

The academy trust board of CST have the overall legal responsibility for governance. They hold financial responsibility and are the strategic managers for the school. The board delegates the operational management of the school to a local governing body which oversees the performance of the school.

This school is smaller than the average-sized infant school. The majority of pupils are of white British heritage. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is average.

The proportion of pupils who are eligible for the pupil premium is average. The proportion of pupils with SEND is above the national average. The school manages before- and after-school care.

Early years provision comprises of 'Woodies' for two-year-olds, nursery for three-year- olds and reception class for four-year-olds. Children join early years at different points. The number of pupils on roll has fallen and mobility of pupils has been high in the last three years.