King's Academy Northern Parade (Infant)

Overview

Pupils learn well at this “caring and supportive school” where strong professional relationships permeate throughout. Following a previous inspection requiring improvement, the school has transformed its culture, leading to significantly better pupil achievement and “minimal disruption in lessons.”

Strengths

• Reading is a “real priority,” with a “well-sequenced programme” and high-quality interventions ensuring weaker readers catch up quickly.
• Pupils behave well, following “clear, consistent routines” and treating others with “courtesy and respect.”
• The curriculum in many subjects identifies important knowledge precisely, set out in a “sensible order” that builds skills over time.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the curriculum effectively through “bespoke strategies and adaptations.”
• Leaders provide comprehensive training, and staff “enjoy working at this school” and feel appreciated.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, curriculum content and sequencing are not identified precisely enough, leading to gaps in pupil understanding that are not addressed.
• Teachers’ subject knowledge is not consistently strong, and tasks do not always enable pupils to deepen their understanding sufficiently.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.