Emmbrook Infant School

Overview

Emmbrook Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection, which judged the school outstanding for overall effectiveness. The report describes a ‘flourishing community’ where pupils feel ‘happy, safe and well cared for’ and demonstrate ‘superb behaviour’. Leaders show an ‘unwavering determination’ to ensure all pupils receive a high-quality education.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve strongly in English and mathematics, supported by an ‘interesting curriculum’ and ‘skilful teaching’ that fosters a ‘genuine love of learning’.
• Reading is ‘at the heart of the curriculum’, with children making a ‘great start’ in Reception and receiving ‘swift support’ when needed.
• The school ‘champions inclusion’, with strong processes to identify additional needs and ‘highly skilled specialist teaching’ for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
• Staff are ‘highly committed and proud’, benefiting from robust trust oversight and professional development that allows them to focus on teaching.
• Enrichment activities, such as ‘Wave Rangers’ outdoor learning and an annual international week, help build confidence and celebrate diversity.

Areas to improve

• In ‘a few wider curriculum subjects’, checks on how well pupils have remembered knowledge over time are ‘not as fully embedded’ as they are in English and mathematics, though leaders are ‘fine-tuning’ this aspect.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.