Ditton Infant School

Overview

Ditton Infant School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, maintaining high standards since its previous ‘Outstanding’ rating. Leaders have fostered a culture where pupils ‘thrive’ through kindness, respect, and high expectations, supported by a ‘well-ordered curriculum’ that builds secure knowledge foundations. The school provides a safe, happy environment where children develop essential life skills and demonstrate exemplary behaviour.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and valued in a culture promoting ‘kindness and respect’, with bullying being ‘extremely rare’.
• Staff possess the expertise to teach phonics effectively, helping most pupils achieve well in reading through daily lessons and blending practice.
• The curriculum is shaped by subject leaders to allow pupils to ‘apply what they know to new learning confidently’.
• Leaders quickly identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and provide staff with relevant training.
• Reception children benefit from a ‘well-resourced outside area’ that develops teamwork and imagination.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure staff have the specific expertise to support pupils with SEND, as current plans are not always specific enough, risking these pupils not achieving their full potential.
• Leaders must increase opportunities for pupils who find reading difficult to read to a well-trained adult, addressing gaps in phonics knowledge and building fluency.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with a ‘robust culture’ ensuring staff are trained to identify risks and follow clear processes for reporting concerns.