Kents Hill Infant Academy

Overview

Kents Hill Infant Academy is described as a "welcoming and inclusive school where pupils are happy" and feel safe within a "nurturing environment." The report highlights a "broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum" that supports strong reading progress and effective teaching structures, resulting in positive pupil attitudes and high attendance.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy learning in a "fun" environment and are "proud of their achievements," following clear rules of being "ready, respectful, safe."
• Reading is a "high priority," with staff ensuring pupils read books that "match the sounds they are learning," helping them become "confident readers."
• Lessons are structured to help pupils "remember more," with teachers using "careful questioning" to identify and address gaps in knowledge quickly.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the same curriculum, with learning "well matched to pupils’ needs" through additional support.
• Staff feel "supported" by leaders who are "considerate regarding their well-being and workload."

Areas to improve

• Leaders should ensure "quality and expectations of pupils’ writing across the curriculum are consistently high," as some staff do not ensure pupils can "effectively communicate what they have learned through their writing."

Safeguarding

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