Holmesdale Infant School

Overview

Holmesdale Infant School is described as a place with a "happy and nurturing ethos" where pupils are well cared for by dedicated staff. Following a period of turbulence, the school has achieved "greater stability and rapid improvement" under current leadership, with a revised curriculum that prepares pupils well for their next steps.

Strengths

• Pupils behave well, responding to "high expectations" and following "well-established routines" while enjoying reward systems.
• The school promotes physical and mental well-being effectively through "very well-developed and spacious outdoor areas" and nature exploration.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are a "high priority," receiving personalised support and being "valued and included."
• Staff are praised for their support of workload and well-being, and governors provide "well-informed support and challenge."
• Early years provision is being "transformed" by recent improvements in curriculum and environment, promoting effective learning and development.

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure the new early reading and phonics curriculum is "securely embedded and consistently implemented" to address residual gaps in pupils' phonological knowledge.

Safeguarding

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