Cotmanhay Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Cotmanhay Infant and Nursery School is described as a "happy and safe place to learn" where pupils "behave well" and "thrive because they are well cared for." The report highlights the school's "longstanding reputation in the community" for providing high-quality care, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.

Strengths

• Staff provide "effective teaching" with "secure" subject knowledge, ensuring pupils develop "secure foundational knowledge and skills" in reading and mathematics.
• The school fosters "highly positive relationships," with pupils showing "kindness and respect" and bullying being "not a problem."
• Leaders demonstrate "dedicated commitment to inclusion," using pupil premium funding effectively to support pupils with "multiple vulnerabilities."
• Parents are "effusive in their praise," with all respondents saying they would recommend the school.
• Attendance is improving significantly due to leaders' "close analysis" and actions to tackle barriers.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure pupils' writing skills reach the "equal standard" achieved in reading and mathematics.
• Leaders should ensure pupils develop an "age-appropriate secure understanding of fundamental British values and cultural diversity."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns being "actively identified, acted upon and managed."