Crest Infant School

Overview

Crest Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils enjoy a "happy, welcoming place" where they receive a "wonderful start to their education" and are greeted warmly by staff who understand their individual needs. The school fosters a highly inclusive environment with "exceptionally high expectations" for all learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Strengths

• Staff maintain "exceptionally high expectations" and provide "expertly tailored support" for pupils with SEND, ensuring a "highly inclusive environment".
• The curriculum is "broad and ambitious," with recent refinements ensuring teachers know "precisely what pupils should understand" and when it must be taught.
• English and mathematics teaching is strong, with staff using strategies to help pupils gain a "deep understanding" and commit prior learning to "long-term memory".
• The school promotes reading enjoyment from the start, with "tailored additional support" ensuring most pupils become "fluent readers by the end of Year 2".
• An "excellent programme for wider opportunities," including visits and visitors, helps pupils develop "self-confidence and character" and prepares them to be "responsible citizens".

Areas to improve

• In some foundation subjects in key stage 1, staff subject knowledge is "not as secure," meaning some pupils "do not attain a highly as they could."
• The school should develop staff subject knowledge across the whole curriculum so that pupils "achieve equally highly in every subject."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."