Dorothy Barley Infants' School

Overview

Dorothy Barley Infants’ School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes a “stimulating place for pupils to learn” where relationships are built on “mutual respect” and pupils are “happy and safe.” The school continues to provide a high-quality education with strong community links and effective leadership.

Strengths

• The school has created an “engaging and ambitious curriculum” that carefully sequences knowledge, allowing pupils to build on previous learning.
• Staff provide “highly effective support for vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND,” swiftly identifying needs and adapting teaching.
• The “personal development offer for pupils is exceptionally well considered,” helping them become responsible citizens who value differences.
• Early years provision is strong, with children settling quickly and showing “good levels of determination and concentration.”
• Phonics teaching is effective, with staff ensuring pupils read books “well matched to their phonics knowledge.”

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teaching does not revisit previous learning sufficiently, meaning pupils’ “long-term recall and understanding of subject content are not fully secure.”
• The school should ensure teaching supports pupils to “revisit previous knowledge and make strong connections to current learning” to prevent gaps.

Safeguarding

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