Fairfield Infant School

Overview

Fairfield Infant School continues to be a good school, where the vision that ‘everyone is valued and learning is fun’ is pupils’ lived experience. Staff create a welcoming environment with ‘well-established routines’ that support positive behaviour and purposeful learning. The curriculum is generally well designed, with strong teaching in reading and mathematics ensuring most pupils make age-appropriate progress.

Strengths

• Staff provide ‘strong support for pupils’ personal development’, using strategies like ‘learning animals’ to encourage resilience and careful thinking.
• Phonics and mathematics teaching is ‘precise’ and ‘accurate’, with staff knowledgeable and able to adjust groups to meet individual needs.
• Pupils with additional needs are ‘identified early’ and supported effectively, while harmful language is dealt with ‘quickly and decisively’.
• Relationships with parents are ‘nurtured from before children start school’, and attendance is monitored carefully to overcome barriers.
• The curriculum is ‘aspirational’ and enhanced by visits and visitors, helping staff understand how teaching fits into the ‘big picture’.

Areas to improve

• The pathway from early years to Year 1 lacks clarity in some areas, meaning the progression of knowledge and skills is ‘not as well defined as it could be’.
• A couple of subjects in key stage 1 are ‘not as well thought out as others’, requiring further review and refinement of the curriculum.
• The school should develop the role of foundation subject leaders further and re-establish governors’ oversight of individual subjects.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.