Hamstel Infant School and Nursery

Overview

Hamstel Infant School and Nursery has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The school fosters a positive environment where children form trusting relationships and behave well, reflecting the mantra that ‘happy staff make for happy children’. Pupils benefit from a well-established curriculum and ambitious learning opportunities that prepare them well for their transition to junior school.

Strengths

• Children develop into ‘caring and respectful individuals’ with strong relationships with peers and adults.
• The curriculum is ‘well established’ and refined, with close attention to learning needs helping pupils read ‘quickly and confidently’.
• Staff actively use educational research to improve oracy, helping pupils ‘widen their use of vocabulary and connect their ideas fluently’.
• The school handles changes in pupil context well, providing effective support for those with speech, language, and communication needs.
• Trustees provide ‘valuable support and appropriate challenge’, while staff benefit from trust networking opportunities.

Areas to improve

• The school must continue to resolve barriers to learning and ensure high-quality oracy delivery so disadvantaged pupils achieve well.
• Strategies to raise the attendance of some disadvantaged pupils are taking time to have the desired impact.
• Some children are taking longer to develop their social, speech, language, and communication skills.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.