Pine Ridge Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school. Pupils' attainment is improving and their progress is good. Consequently, they achieve well as they did at the previous inspection.

The school has consolidated its strengths and made improvements due to the deputy headteacher's successful focus on improving teaching and learning, the strong collaboration with the federation and a clear focus on the teaching of phonics (the system of letters and the sounds they make) across the school. Attainment is broadly in line with the national average, though better in writing and mathematics than in reading. All groups of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well in all aspects of learning.
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Teaching is good and there are some elements of outstanding practice. Teaching typically extends pupils' learning well so that they make good progress. There is high quality support for all pupils, including those with disabilities and/or special educational needs and those whose circumstances make them vulnerable.

The school works well with a wide range of support agencies, including the children's centre, to improve pupils' personal and academic achievements. Pupils feel safe and secure. Almost all behave well, and those who find this difficult benefit from good programmes and support to help them access lessons with their peers.

Good relationships and a strong emphasis on pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development prepare pupils well for the next stage of their education. A few children do not attend school regularly enough. The school has created a warm and welcoming ethos in which all pupils thrive and are highly valued.

Strong links across the federation result in wider opportunities for pupils and staff, enhancing provision and helping attainment to rise. The school has a good capacity to improve. The senior leaders and the governing body know its strengths and weaknesses well.

They are fully aware of what needs doing to improve provision and outcomes further.

Information about the school

Pine Ridge Infant and Nursery is smaller than average for a school of its type. The majority of the school population are White British.

The remainder come from a range of other ethnic backgrounds, with Bangladeshi being the next largest group. The proportion of pupils with disabilities and/or special educational needs, mainly emotional or speech, language and communication difficulties, is above average. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is well above average.

There is Early Years Foundation Stage provision for children in the Nursery and Reception classes. The school is federated with nearby Lorraine School and Nursery. All of these facilities share the same headteacher and governing body.

A private nursery, managed by the governing body and known as 'Little Acorns' is located on the school's site, and was included in this inspection. It is registered for children aged from two to eight, but currently caters for two- and three-year-olds. A children's centre is also located on the site, but is subject to separate inspection arrangements.