Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Herne Church of England Infant and Nursery School is described as a school where leaders create a "positive, professional culture of kindness and high expectations." The report highlights an "ambitious and coherently sequenced curriculum" that places a "relentless focus" on securing foundational knowledge. Pupils are "well prepared for Key Stage 2" and benefit from a "calm, welcoming environment" where their needs are met very well.

Strengths

• Leaders have designed an "ambitious and coherently sequenced curriculum" with "expert subject knowledge" among staff.
• Inclusion is "at the heart of its work," with "precisely targeted strategies" enabling pupils with SEND to access the same curriculum as peers.
• Staff use "high-quality discussions" and skilfully enable pupils to "learn through their interests," fostering confident learners.
• The school promotes a "deeply embedded culture of calm, kind and respectful behaviour," with bullying being "extremely rare."
• Leaders work "extremely well with parents and carers," who are "overwhelmingly supportive of the school."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should "continue to embed their adaptive practices so that pupils with low starting points catch up rapidly."
• Leaders should "ensure that pupils with barriers to learning and/or wellbeing attend school regularly."

Safeguarding

The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."