Farnborough Road Infant School

Overview

Farnborough Road Infant School continues to be a good school, described as a "happy" environment where pupils feel safe and valued. Leaders have established high expectations for learning, resulting in pupils achieving well and developing secure knowledge across the curriculum. The school fosters strong relationships, with staff prioritising well-being and pupils enjoying a rich variety of educational experiences.

Strengths

• Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, "achieve well" due to high expectations and a curriculum shaped around their needs.
• Staff create classrooms "full of rich conversation focused on learning," with minimal disruptions and clear conduct expectations.
• Leaders ensure pupils "love reading" through a rich variety of stories, poems, and rhymes from the early years.
• The school nurtures personal development, helping pupils understand health, safety, and the contributions of diverse historical figures.
• Staff report the school is a "rewarding, joyful place to work" with reasonable workloads and excellent relationships.

Areas to improve

• Some early years staff do not use questions skilfully, limiting children’s ability to engage in "back-and-forth conversations" and build language.
• Early reading instruction is inconsistent; some staff use "impure letter sounds," select mismatched books, or provide excessive help, hindering some pupils’ progress.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders ensuring staff understand their responsibilities and recording information thoroughly to protect pupils.