Hindhayes Infant School

Overview

Hindhayes Infant School is described as a place where pupils "enjoy coming to school" within a supportive "family ethos" that ensures they feel "safe and cared for." The inspection highlights a "well-planned and ambitious curriculum" and "exceptional" personal development, though inconsistencies in phonics teaching and assessment practices in some subjects require attention.

Strengths

• The school’s provision for personal development is "exceptional," with the ‘Curriculum for Life’ fostering a "strong and committed understanding of the importance of kindness."
• Pupils benefit from a "rich range of experiences," including visits to the beach and a "well-provisioned forest school" that helps develop curiosity and confidence.
• Reading is a clear priority, with pupils showing a "love of reading" and benefiting from a "well-planned and sequenced phonics programme" and a diverse school library.
• Staff workload and well-being are "taken into account by leaders and governors," contributing to a positive environment where staff "enjoy working."
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are "well supported," with high expectations that all staff understand individual needs.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the phonics programme is "delivered consistently well by all staff" to prevent gaps in knowledge that hinder pupils from becoming "fluent and confident readers."
• The school must ensure assessment is used effectively in all subjects to inform planning, as teaching does not always check understanding well enough to adapt activities for all pupils.

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."