Bilton Infant School

Overview

Pupils feel “happy, safe and cared for” at Bilton Infant School, with early years provision and personal development rated as good. However, the overall effectiveness requires improvement due to inconsistencies in the quality of education, low-level disruption in classrooms, and governance failing to ensure accurate performance reporting.

Strengths

• Children in the early years “get off to a good start,” demonstrating concentration and a “keen interest” in learning linked to their surroundings.
• The phonics programme is “well planned, resourced and ordered,” allowing many pupils to read sounds with confidence.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “well looked after and included,” receiving support plans that reflect specialist advice.
• Personal development is strong, with pupils enjoying new activities, educational visits, and leadership roles such as eco and school councils.

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure all pupils, particularly those struggling with reading, read regularly to develop confidence and a love of reading.
• Systems for a consistent approach to behaviour must be implemented and understood by all to address low-level disruption.
• Governance and the local authority must assure themselves that reported information accurately reflects the quality of education and behaviour.
• Staff must use assessment effectively and consistently to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge and inform future learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”