Glasshoughton Infant Academy

Overview

Glasshoughton Infant Academy is described as a "caring and ambitious school" where leaders prioritise the development of pupils’ character. The report highlights that pupils feel safe, are highly supportive of one another, and develop independence from an early age.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate "highly respectful" attitudes towards people with different backgrounds or beliefs, supported by visits to places of worship and diverse extra-curricular opportunities.
• Leaders promote an "excellent awareness of strategies that promote mental health and well-being" in collaboration with parents and pupils.
• Children in the early years get off to a "good start," benefiting from positive relationships, well-organised environments, and clear routines that foster independence.
• Staff feel valued within a "strong team culture," with leaders carefully considering workload and providing effective support.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "well supported" through detailed support plans and close collaboration with external agencies.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the curriculum is reviewed so that pupils are taught the "disciplinary knowledge" required to understand what it means to be a subject expert, as this is not consistently identified in some subjects.
• Teachers should ensure that pupils at the early stages of learning to read are provided with books that "closely match their phonic knowledge," as some currently struggle with mismatched texts.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with thorough checks on staff suitability, clear reporting systems, and detailed record-keeping.