Clarkson Infants School

Overview

Clarkson Infants School is described as a "friendly and happy school" where pupils "enjoy their learning" and feel safe. Following a period of challenge, the school has "improved rapidly" under current leadership, with most pupils now "ready for the demands of junior school" by the end of Year 2.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate strong progress in early reading due to a "well-sequenced systematic synthetic phonics programme" delivered by staff with "strong subject knowledge".
• The curriculum is carefully planned, with leaders ensuring pupils learn in a "sensible order" and staff providing suitable work to help them "practise and remember".
• Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is "effective", with leaders ensuring children receive "the right help, at the right time".
• Behaviour is excellent; pupils are proud of their "behaviour animals" stickers and report that "there is no bullying at their school".
• Assessment is used effectively to match teaching to pupils' needs, particularly in mathematics and phonics.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure curriculum delivery is "highly effective" so that pupils with low starting points, particularly in writing, "catch up by the time they leave the school".
• Leaders should continue to find ways to reduce the persistent absence of a small group of pupils who "miss parts of the curriculum".

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective", with staff who are "vigilant and alert" to signs of abuse and who report concerns promptly.