Northern Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school All groups of pupils make good progress from their low starting points and many reach standards above other pupils nationally by the end of Year 2. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage settle quickly to school and they too make good progress. The good achievement is largely due to teaching that is typically good.

Teaching has improved recently because of very effective quality training and coaching, and through rigorous checks on its quality. Teaching assistants are skilled and provide good support, especially for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs. As a result, these pupils make good progress.

Pupils enj...oy school and feel safe. Their behaviour in lessons is never less than good. Parents agree that the school is a safe and enjoyable place to learn.

Strong emphasis on provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development underpins excellent relationships seen across the school. The executive headteacher, well supported by the head of school and governors, has provided a welcome new vision and impetus to the school's development through her strong leadership. Improvements in teaching, the consolidation of pupils' achievement, a clearer and a more accurate system of checking on progress have all been achieved with considerable success.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : There is not enough outstanding teaching to ensure that pupils' achievement can be improved further, especially the most able. Some middle leaders, who are comparatively new to the role, are not yet playing the fullest part in checking on their subjects and driving forward improvements.

Information about this school

Northern Infant School is much smaller than the average-sized infant school.

Although the proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is well below the national average, the proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium funding (those eligible for free school meals, those in local authority care and those with a parent or carer in the armed forces) is well above average because of the larger proportion of children of forces personnel. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is well below average. The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is average.

The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is well below average, as is the proportion who speaks English as an additional language. The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of two Reception classes. There is a private nursery on site.

Pupils in Years 1 and 2 are taught in mixed-age classes. Since the last inspection, eight teachers have left or joined the school. The school is federated with the adjacent junior school.

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