Ashley Infant School

Overview

Ashley Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school cultivates a happy, inclusive atmosphere where pupils are kind, respectful, and demonstrate an ‘unmistakeable sense of purpose’. Leaders remain committed to offering ‘the best learning experiences and pastoral care possible’, underpinned by strong governance and a focus on equality.

Strengths

• Pupils’ behaviour is described as ‘impressive’, with children being kind to each other and rarely falling out.
• The curriculum is ‘carefully designed’ to build knowledge step by step, with particular success in English and mathematics.
• Phonics teaching is ‘skilful and precise’, fostering a tangible ‘love of reading’ among pupils.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities ‘thrive’ through carefully personalised teaching and effective support.
• Staff have strengthened their understanding of neurodiversity and how pupils who speak English as an additional language learn.

Areas to improve

• The ambitious curriculum in foundation subjects is not fully realised in practice, as pupils do not readily remember some intended learning.
• The school should ensure that assessment checks cover subject-specific skills as well as knowledge to verify deeper understanding.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.