Dechmont Infant School

Overview

Inspectors visited Dechmont Infant School in November 2023, finding a supportive environment where children are "enthusiastic and confident" and demonstrate strong school values. The report highlights "very positive relationships" between staff and pupils, alongside effective teaching in science and digital literacy, supported by close community partnerships.

Strengths

• Children are "eager to learn across the curriculum" and "identify strongly as a school community."
• Staff provide a "supportive and nurturing environment," ensuring children "feel safe and happy."
• "Effective approaches" to teaching science, technology, engineering, and digital literacy stimulate curiosity and investigative skills.
• A "close community partnership" enhances learning through meaningful local projects and values parents as partners.

Areas to improve

• Staff should help children take "increased ownership for their learning" and use learning targets to understand progress.
• Teaching approaches need development to ensure the "right levels of support and challenge" for all children in literacy and numeracy.
• Staff should build children’s "knowledge and skills in mathematics" as planned.

Safeguarding

The report states that children "know they are cared for and feel safe and happy" within the supportive environment provided by staff.