Jackfield Infant School

Overview

Leaders have established an “ambitious curriculum” with high expectations, resulting in pupils who are “well behaved and interested in their lessons.” The school fosters a positive environment where children feel safe and enjoy a broad range of experiences, including trips and clubs. However, inconsistent checking of pupil learning and irregular attendance hinder some pupils from making the progress they could.

Strengths

• Reading is taught well, with staff using “daily ‘reading squads’” and carefully matched books to support phonics development.
• Pupils follow the school’s rules to “be sensible, be polite, and be kind,” with bullying incidents being rare and resolved swiftly.
• The curriculum is broadened through visits, such as “bug hunts” and trips to Ford Green Hall, deepening pupils’ knowledge.
• Early years routines are “well-established and effective,” helping children settle and develop important language and number skills.
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff receiving regular training and recording concerns appropriately.

Areas to improve

• Teachers do not consistently check pupils’ learning during lessons, meaning misconceptions are not always identified and addressed quickly enough.
• Some pupils needing additional help with communication skills do not receive appropriate support at the right time.
• Some pupils do not attend school regularly or on time, causing them to fall behind in their learning.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff receive regular training and work well with external agencies to keep pupils safe.