Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School

Overview

Damson Wood Nursery and Infant School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” Pupils are described as “happy and excited to learn” in an inclusive environment where they “achieve well across the breadth of the curriculum.” The school fosters a strong sense of community, with children demonstrating respect and resilience.

Strengths

• Staff deliver a curriculum that is taught “logically” and “coherently,” resulting in strong pupil achievement.
• Early years staff are “highly successful in developing children’s oracy skills,” supporting conversation and vocabulary.
• Phonics is taught with “fidelity to the school’s programme,” with books “well matched to the sounds they know.”
• Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is “highly effective,” helping them develop independence.
• The school offers an “extensive arts and music curriculum” and creates “memorable moments” through clubs and events.

Areas to improve

• The school should develop the curriculum to ensure “clear progression from the start of school at two-years-old to the end of Year 2,” as current sequencing in some areas hinders coherent knowledge building.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”