Abbey Infants' School

Overview

Abbey Infants’ School is described as a “welcoming and happy school” where pupils feel safe and are inspired by the motto to ‘Aim high, Work hard, Achieve together.’ The report states that the overall effectiveness is Good, with high expectations for behaviour and a broad, ambitious curriculum that prepares pupils well for their next stage of learning.

Strengths

• Pupils are “kind and considerate,” with bullying being rare and concerns resolved quickly.
• The curriculum is “broad, well organised and ambitious,” with clear assessment activities in subjects like geography and mathematics.
• Reading is prioritised effectively; daily phonics sessions are “taught consistently well,” and pupils “learn to read fluently and develop a love of reading.”
• Staff provide tailored support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they can access the curriculum.
• Leaders promote personal development through visits to places of interest and teaching about “fundamental British values.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should fully implement the new religious education curriculum and provide staff training to address pupils’ “limited understanding of faith.”
• In history, leaders must ensure teachers know the “exact content” to be taught, as current planning lacks precision.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving up-to-date training and rigorous checks conducted prior to new staff joining the school.