Weston Infant Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school? '

Where we grow' is the school's motto and pupils live up to this expectation.

They grow in learning, independence and resilience. Pupils from Nursery to Year 2 progress well through the curriculum. They gain a love of reading and secure mathematical knowledge so that they are well prepared for their next steps.

Pupils benefit from a broad curriculum that helps them to develop personally and be proud of where they are from. Their rich learning experiences include meeting famous local artists to inspire their own artwork and finding out about schools in more deprived areas of the world through their fundraising work.

Building effective relationships is at the h...eart of the school's work.

Pupils arrive at school keen to learn and ready to embrace all that the day has to offer. Pupils make friends because they care about each other and appreciate each other's differences. At breaktimes, they play happily with their peers on the playground.

Pupils generally behave very well in lessons and around the school. They enjoy the recognition they receive for being successful. This includes the opportunity for pupils to nominate their peers for 'good as gold' certificates when they have displayed one of the school's values.

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

The school has taken the right action to bring about the necessary improvements to early reading. All staff are well trained to teach the early reading programme effectively and deliver the curriculum consistently. Staff use assessment information well to understand the specific sound knowledge pupils have gained.

Pupils who need extra help with their reading are well supported to enable them to keep up with their peers. This means that pupils are progressing well with their reading skills and more pupils are now able to read accurately and fluently. Teachers grasp every opportunity to develop children's language and love of books.

The mathematics curriculum is well established and ambitious. There are lots of opportunities to revisit and reinforce key knowledge and concepts. Supported by the trust, staff benefit from effective professional development opportunities so that they are experts in the teaching of mathematics.

Teachers use practical resources and modelled examples to help pupils understand mathematical concepts and processes.

Staff are well trained to identify pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils live up to the high expectations that staff have for them.

Pupils with SEND access an inclusive curriculum alongside their peers. Staff adapt the delivery of the curriculum where necessary to meet their individual needs.

The school is redesigning the wider curriculum.

In a small minority of subject areas, the school has not clearly identified the essential knowledge that they want pupils to learn and when. Where intended, learning is sequenced well, for example in history and physical education, pupils build knowledge and skills over time.

In lessons, teachers present new learning well.

Pupils benefit from opportunities to work with their friends, sharing their thoughts and ideas. In English and mathematics lessons, teachers check pupils' understanding before moving them on to more complex learning. However, in some subjects, staff have not been able to accurately check what pupils have learned over time.

This means that teachers find it more difficult to spot and address any gaps in pupils' learning.

Children get off to a strong start in the early years. The school prioritises learning opportunities that help children to develop their communication and language skills.

Children show high levels of curiosity and independence. High expectations for behaviour begin as soon as pupils join the school. They behave well and know the expectations staff have of them.

Parents and carers welcome the way in which the school engages with them. Many comment positively on the pastoral support provided and the caring, nurturing staff who go 'above and beyond'.

The school has recently implemented a new programme of study for personal development.

Pupils learn about staying healthy and forming safe, positive relationships. Pupils' spiritual and moral development is strong. During assembly time, pupils learn about the world, different faiths and celebrate achievements.

The school encourages pupils to be 'Weston'. This encompasses the school's values of well-being, empathy, strength, tolerance, openness and close neighbourhood links. These values run throughout school life and support and encourage pupils to become good citizens.

Pupils enjoy the range of trips on offer as well as the after-school clubs that many pupils attend.

The members of the multi-academy trust, along with trustees and governors, know the school well. They provide strong support to leaders to continue to develop the curriculum.

Staff say that they are proud to work at the school.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• The school is redesigning the content for some subjects within the curriculum.

In a small number of subjects, it is not clear what curriculum content teachers need to teach or when. This means that some pupils may miss out on important learning. The school should make sure that the content to be taught for each subject is identified clearly, alongside when the content should be taught.

The school is at the early stages of implementing a new assessment system for the foundation subjects. Previously, staff have not been able to accurately check what pupils have learned over time so as to identify any gaps. The school should ensure that assessment is used well to check what pupils know and remember so that teachers can use this information to plan the next steps in learning.