Clowne Infant and Nursery School

Overview

This is a good school that is highly valued by pupils and their families, who describe it as a place where children thrive. Leadership is expert, and staff provide genuine love and care within a harmonious environment where pupils learn without distraction. The school has responded swiftly to previous inspection findings, resulting in a better-planned curriculum and improved attendance.

Strengths

• Children receive an excellent start in Nursery and Reception, benefiting from a carefully planned curriculum and skilled staff.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are particularly well supported, with learning needs swiftly identified and addressed.
• Reading is a priority, with creative initiatives like a book vending machine and ‘digraph detectives’ fostering a love of literature.
• The school offers numerous opportunities for personal development, including theatre trips, competitions, and a well-planned PSHE curriculum.
• Staff appreciate leaders’ ‘open door’ approach and efforts to consider workload, contributing to a positive school community.

Areas to improve

• Assessment systems in some foundation subjects need refining to provide complete information for pupils’ next learning steps.
• The implementation of the phonics curriculum requires greater precision and consistency, particularly regarding checks on sound understanding.
• The school must continue work to improve the attendance and achievement of disadvantaged pupils, who still miss out on learning.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.