Hiltingbury Infant School

Overview

Pupils receive a “truly excellent start to their education” in an environment characterised by strong relationships and high ambition. The report describes an “incredibly positive atmosphere” where children thrive academically and pastorally, with parents being “overwhelmingly happy” with the provision.

Strengths

• Staff build a “comprehensive picture of each child,” ensuring “highly effective learning starts immediately” and pupils achieve highly by the end of key stage 1.
• The teaching of phonics is “precise and accurate,” with staff providing “highly effective extra support” to ensure all pupils read with fluency and enthusiasm.
• The curriculum is “carefully” constructed with “precise knowledge, skills and vocabulary,” allowing pupils to “remember and build on prior learning effectively.”
• Pupils display “exemplary” behaviour, showing “high levels of respect and self-control” while striving to fulfil the school’s motto of ‘Learning, Caring and Achieving Together’.
• Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities are given “every opportunity to succeed,” with their progress described as “excellent.”

Areas to improve

• The school is “rightly working effectively to improve the attendance of some pupils who could attend school more often than they currently do,” despite persistent absence being very low overall.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”