Selston Church of England Infant and Nursery School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils flourish in the safe, nurturing environment of this aspirational school.

Staff know pupils well and have their best interests at heart. Young children settle quickly. They thrive in the school's vibrant nursery thanks to the high level of care provided by staff.

Pupils like spending time with each other. They play happily together and say making friends is easy at Selston. 'Playground pals' are on hand at breaktimes to check that everyone is okay.

Pupils behave well. They try hard and listen attentively most of the time.

The school's vision is to 'open hearts and minds'.

To this end, pupils experience a range of enrichment activities ...designed to broaden their horizons. In daily assemblies, pupils come to understand the school's values of love, service, forgiveness, truth and endurance. For example, pupils know that service is about treating everyone with kindness.

Developing pupils' independence is a key aim in all classes. Staff empower pupils to do things for themselves. Pupils enjoy independent learning and take pride in completing tasks on their own.

Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school, especially the new nursery provision for two-year-olds. They praise the family feel that has been created at Selston.

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

Pupils benefit from a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum.

The school has thought carefully about what children need to know and do in all areas of learning and all subjects. There is a clear progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary from nursery through to Year 2. Pupils achieve well in reading, writing and mathematics at the end of key stage 1, which prepares them well for the next stage of their education.

From the moment they start in the early years, children are immersed in a world of books. While at Selston, pupils experience a diverse range of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, songs and rhyme. The school has chosen texts specifically to instil a love of reading and to develop pupils' understanding of the world.

Staff deliver much of the school's curriculum through stories. This approach makes learning accessible and enjoyable. Most staff are experts in developing children's communication and language skills.

Staff teach phonics well. Any pupil who falls behind in learning to read gets additional support straight away.

The school identifies any additional needs that pupils may have swiftly.

Staff adapt their lessons well so that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the same learning as their peers and achieve well. Staff have good subject knowledge. They question skilfully, encouraging pupils to think deeply and work things out by themselves.

Staff are knowledgeable about the importance of play-based learning in the early years. They understand how to support children to learn through play and how to help them collaborate with others. Staff also make effective use of images, presenting them alongside important words to support pupils' understanding of language.

Teachers check closely on pupils' progress. However, at times, they do not use this information well enough. On occasion, staff do not move children in the early years or pupils in key stage 1 on to new learning when they are ready.

Pupils treat each other with kindness and respect. Staff model the school's values so that pupils know what is expected of them. Incidents of misbehaviour are rare.

The school is taking effective action to improve attendance. It ensures that parents understand the importance of their children attending every day and how absence has a negative impact on pupils' progress. Staff intervene early to get to the bottom of the reasons for pupils having time off school.

This work is leading to a significant reduction in persistent absence.

Spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is woven into all aspects of school life. In personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons, pupils learn how to be a good friend, as well as how to keep themselves safe and healthy.

Pupils' learning is enhanced by many curriculum-linked trips, visitors and experiences that bring learning to life. Highlights include visiting the University of Nottingham, learning to play the ukulele and the Year 2 residential. There is also a range of extra-curricular clubs.

Local governors and trustees work in partnership with school leaders, providing effective challenge and support. Staff enjoy working at the school. They appreciate the consideration given to their well-being and workload.

They make the most of the high-quality opportunities to improve their practice provided by the trust. Those in the early stages of their teaching career prosper thanks to the support and guidance they are given at Selston.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• At times, pupils do not learn more demanding curriculum content when they are ready for it. As a result, some pupils do not progress through the school's ambitious curriculum as well as they could. The school should ensure that all learning is well matched to pupils' age and stage of development.