Hiltingbury Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils receive a truly excellent start to their education in every aspect of school life.

The school focuses on building strong relationships with pupils and their families from the outset. Staff get to know pupils quickly and show pupils great warmth and care.

The school is extremely ambitious for what all pupils can achieve and learn.

From the first day in the Reception Year, teachers build pupils' learning very carefully so that pupils achieve highly in all subjects.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They clearly strive to fulfil the school's motto of 'Learning, Caring and Achieving Together'.

Pupils of all ages are well mannered and show h...igh levels of respect and self-control. Pupils learn how to be part of a caring community, which includes pupils from diverse backgrounds and pupils with complex needs.

All of this leads to an incredibly positive atmosphere in which pupils thrive both academically and pastorally.

Parents are overwhelmingly happy with the school's provision. They know that their children are happy, safe and attend a school where they will really flourish.

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

The school has a relentless approach to giving its pupils a high-quality education.

Staff build a comprehensive picture of each child, ensuring that the correct provision is in place from day one. This in turn ensures that highly effective learning starts immediately for all pupils. This learning continues through their time at school.

As such, pupils achieve very highly by the time they leave at the end of key stage 1.

Determined staff ensure that pupils learn to read well and with great enthusiasm. The teaching of phonics is precise and accurate.

If any pupils struggle to read with fluency, staff waste no time in giving them highly effective extra support. This enables these pupils to catch up rapidly when needed. Teachers make sure that the books pupils read are well matched to their reading ability.

Story time is a cherished part of every day. Pupils listen eagerly to the very well-chosen texts.

All other subjects are equally very well delivered.

The school constructs the curriculum in each subject carefully. The curriculum details the precise knowledge, skills and vocabulary for pupils to learn. Teachers check what pupils have learned meticulously and use this information to prepare future lessons.

Pupils remember and build on prior learning effectively. Pupils learn early mathematics exceptionally well. In wider curriculum subjects, such as geography, art and religious education, the curriculum enhances pupils' knowledge and skills greatly.

Pupils' strong engagement in lessons, the high-quality work they produce and their later recall of the knowledge they acquire demonstrate how deeply they learn. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities are given every opportunity to succeed, and their progress is excellent.

Pupils' attitudes to their work are superb.

Teachers use the 'Hiltingbury Heroes' characters to encourage all pupils to live up to the school's values of, for example, being a team player, a creative thinker or a reflective learner. All pupils demonstrate a desire to achieve and celebrate these life skills. If pupils find it harder to control their behaviour, adults' effective care and support helps them to make long-term improvements.

Pupils' attendance and punctuality are very strong. While persistent absence is very low overall, the school is rightly working effectively to improve the attendance of some pupils who could attend school more often than they currently do.

Equality, diversity and acceptance of others' needs and backgrounds are central aspects of pupils' positive attitudes towards all.

The 'All About Me' project at the start of year gives every pupil the chance to celebrate the similarities and differences between each other. Pupils develop an excellent, age-appropriate understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Pupils have access to a wide range of clubs and curriculum trips to develop their experiences, from which disadvantaged pupils benefit greatly.

The school exudes teamwork. Everyone knows the part that they play. All staff receive excellent, well-considered opportunities to develop their careers as individuals and as a team.

This develops a genuine drive to raise performance even further. This level of ambition does not go unnoticed by parents. For example, one parent, reflecting the views of many others, said: 'My son has excelled since he started here.

The teachers have been absolutely amazing. He loves coming to school.'

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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