Raglan Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This is an inspirational school where pupils thrive, and learning comes alive.

Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. They are kind and caring towards each other and respectful to adults. They are enthusiastic and attentive in lessons.

Pupils take great care when presenting their work. The quality of their work in books and on display around the school is truly impressive.

The school is highly ambitious for every pupil to learn a broad range of knowledge and skills.

Pupils rise to the school's high expectations. Because of this, all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), attend well and achieve highly by the time ...they leave Year 2 for junior school.

Due to the close and supportive relationships between staff and pupils, pupils know that all the adults in the school will always help them and keep them safe.

There are a range of popular clubs and activities to enhance pupils' broader personal.development and well-being. These include activities such as tennis, yoga and mindfulness, choir, and arts club.

The school makes sure that activities are accessible for everyone. From early years onwards, educational visits considerably enhance the ambitious curriculum. For example, pupils have enjoyed visits to the Tower of London, a local mosque, and Celtic Harmony Camp.

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

In all subjects, the school has designed an ambitious and well-structured curriculum. The knowledge and skills pupils learn are clearly defined and well-sequenced, building towards understanding more complex knowledge. This begins in early years and develops as pupils get older.

For example, in art and design, children in early years learn about mixing colours when painting and drawing and different materials for sculpture. They build on this knowledge when learning about Kandinsky and the Musical Paintbox. By Year 2, pupils apply what they have learned to make more complex moving objects using a range of tools and techniques.

Staff work closely in subject teams. The school use a team of specialist teachers to further enrich the curriculum in such as areas as art, computing, design technology, music, and physical education (PE). This helps to ensure teachers are well-supported to design activities that inspire pupils and build their knowledge securely.

As a result, pupils develop a rich body of knowledge in different subjects and achieve exceptionally well.

Children prosper in early years. The curriculum is well-thought through and designed to develop children's knowledge in all areas of learning, preparing them well for key stage one.

For example, the curriculum for communication helps to ensure adults model language and interact skilfully through familiar songs, poems, and rhymes.The environment is creatively adapted to help children practise what they learn. Children, including those with SEND, become independent, curious, and confident learners.

This supports their seamless transition into Year 1.

Pupils learn to read as soon as they start school. In Nursery, children begin to identify and repeat the first sounds in simple words when being read to.

This prepares them well for their phonics learning in Reception. The daily phonics sessions are highly effective. Staff model sounds with precision, meaning that pupils learn to say sounds accurately.

Pupils use this knowledge to read new and unfamiliar words. Assessment is rigorous and books are carefully matched to the sounds pupils are learning. Pupils who are not fluent readers have regular, targeted support.

This helps to ensure pupils develop as confident readers who achieve exceptionally well, including in the Year 1 phonics screening check.

Pupils understand and respond well to the 'five-step' approach to behaviour. Pupils behave very-well in lessons and learning is not disrupted.

Pupils readily take responsibility for themselves and their peers throughout the day. Any incidents at playtimes are swiftly resolved. The school uses a range of effective strategies, such as breakfast club, to ensure high attendance and punctuality.

The school promotes pupils' wider personal development very well. The personal development and well-being curriculum is designed to help pupils to understand themes such as online safety, healthy relationships, and positive friendships. Pupils learn about a wide range of cultures and to respect differences.

They enjoy serving on the school council and an innovative eco-council. Pupils at an early age are being well-prepared for life in modern Britain.

Staff are rightly proud to work at this school.

They value the consideration.shown by leaders for their workload and well-being. Staff praise the high-quality training that they receive, including about safeguarding.

Governance is strong and provides informed challenge and support. Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the work of the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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