Ringwood Church of England Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils eagerly come to school each morning knowing that they will have an exciting and inspiring day ahead. The teachers have high expectations of what pupils will achieve in their learning.

Alongside this, the school's values help pupils know how they should behave. As they learn to read and write, pupils strive to be courageous. They show love and respect to their friends and adults that help them.

As a result, learning is calm and purposeful.

This is a school where pupils are cherished and nurtured. Everyone's differences, talents and interests are valued.

As one pupil commented, 'It would be boring if we were just the same'. Pupils with special e...ducational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are particularly well supported by the staff and their friends. All pupils know that they must be kind to one another, and unkind behaviour is not tolerated.

If there are any misunderstandings, pupils trust staff to help resolve them.

Pupils benefit from the vast range of opportunities that enrich their learning. The whole school community particularly appreciates the time they spend together.

This includes joyous singing during time of collective worship, as well as memorable trips out to the local church and town.

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

Leaders, governors and staff are highly ambitious for every pupil in their school. This ambition is about more than academic success.

The school's values and wider curriculum help pupils to be confident and to feel accepted. This is seen in the school's thoughtfully designed environment. For example, the recently refurbished classrooms in Reception give children the balance of being physically active with quieter spaces for talking and reading.

As a result, children make a positive start to their schooling.

The carefully planned curriculum helps pupils connect what they learn in the different subjects to reach a better understanding of the world around them. In subjects such as history, pupils build their knowledge of significant events and people throughout key stage 1.

Pupils can also talk about the history of many festivals as well as how their local town of Ringwood has developed over time. In a small number of subjects and in the early years, leaders are aware that some further developments are needed. These will ensure pupils are as confident across the whole curriculum.

All staff know that reading is central to every pupil's success. The school library sits at the heart of the school. Pupils can find a comfy seat or sit in the 'Reading Tepee' to enjoy a good book.

In lessons, pupils are learning how to read through a planned phonics programme. The books they read help them to practise their sounds and letters. Pupils who find reading more difficult have a second session each day to help them catch-up quickly.

Pupils enjoy their reading and look forward to the story time at the end of each day. This focus on reading means that nearly all pupils leave the school as eager and confident readers.

Teachers carefully check what pupils have remembered from previous learning.

Any gaps in a pupil's understanding are quickly acted upon. Specific support is given to all pupils to help them achieve well. This is particularly evident for pupils with SEND.

For example, inspectors saw in mathematics how some pupils were given additional support and resources to help them keep up with their classmates.

Learning is fun and pupils are eager to take part. Many parents agreed with this in their responses to the online questionnaire, Ofsted Parent View.

They described how their children always look forward to coming to school. Behaviour is therefore excellent, and attendance is high. Calm and patient support is given to any pupils who occasionally find controlling their behaviour more difficult.

Well-trained staff have lunch in the 'Mole Hole' with pupils who need a calmer space at playtimes.

Leaders provide all pupils with a range of enriching experiences. Pupils are encouraged to find out about their local and global community and to consider what they can do to support it.

Staff also spend time finding out about each pupil's individual interests and talents. Pupils can explore these in school and through the variety of after-school clubs that are on offer.

School leaders and staff are supported by a dedicated governing body.

This support was particularly valued over the past year. Staff are overwhelmingly proud of their school. They know that leaders care about their well-being as well as their professional development.

High-quality training gives teachers the knowledge and skills to continually refine the school's curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Staff build strong relationships with families as soon as pupils join the school.

Regular and up-to-date training ensures all adults are constantly alert to any concerns about the safety and well-being of pupils. Swift action is taken when this is required. This includes working with external agencies as well as identifying valuable support offered within the local community.

Pupils feel safe and trust adults to listen to their concerns. The school's curriculum helps pupils identify possible risks and what action they should take if they are worried. This includes this term's focus on how to stay safe when online.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• Leaders are aware that, in a very small number of subjects, further refinements are needed to embed the curriculum securely and consistently. This includes the ongoing development of the early years curriculum in line with the new 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage'. Leaders must monitor this work carefully to ensure that pupils know and remember more across the whole curriculum.