Crosshall Infant School

Overview

Crosshall Infant School Academy provides a high-quality education where pupils are exposed to a "rich set of experiences that go beyond the expected." The school fosters a welcoming community where children are "polite and welcoming," guided by shared values known as the ‘Golden Rules’. Leaders have established a "powerful vision" for early education, ensuring that every moment is used to enhance learning from the minute children join Nursery.

Strengths

• The curriculum is designed with "high expectations," including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring all are "prepared well for their transition to junior school."
• Early years provision is "exceptional," with skilled adults modelling "precise use of language" to support strong communication skills and independent exploration.
• A "shared vision for reading" inspires pupils to love books, with daily exposure to poetry and texts that promote acceptance of different cultures.
• Pupils benefit from meaningful extra-curricular activities, such as cooking and music, which enhance social skills and emotional understanding.
• Governors provide "clear oversight" of developments, while staff work together effectively and are valued by parents for being "dedicated and nurturing."

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure that all Key Stage 1 pupils read books matched to their phonics knowledge to build "reading fluency," as some currently spend too much time breaking down individual words.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders promoting "high expectations" and ensuring that all staff are trained to keep pupils safe and respond quickly to concerns.