Carlisle Infant School

Overview

Carlisle Infant School continues to be a good school, characterised by a "highly inclusive" ethos where respect is central. Pupils are "kind and considerate," achieving well through a "broad and ambitious" curriculum that prepares them effectively for the next stage of their education.

Strengths

• Early reading is prioritised with a consistent phonics programme, ensuring books are "carefully matched to the sounds pupils know" to develop fluency.
• The curriculum is "well sequenced" to help pupils build understanding cumulatively, with clear identification of key vocabulary in subjects like mathematics.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "accurately identified" and receive suitable adaptations to access the same curriculum as their peers.
• Classrooms present "calm, orderly environments" where independence and resilience are encouraged, fostering positive attitudes towards work.
• Staff report being "overwhelmingly positive about the consideration given to their workload and well-being."

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, assessment is not used effectively to check learning, meaning some pupils have not secured the knowledge needed for more complex ideas.
• The school needs to ensure assessment is used across the curriculum to "identify and address any gaps in knowledge or misconceptions pupils have."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with pupils knowing they are kept safe and trusting that adults will always help them.