Lumley Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Lumley Infant and Nursery School is judged ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ ratings for behaviour, personal development, and early years provision. The report highlights a school where pupils benefit from a “highly ambitious curriculum” and “exceptional” support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders have successfully revised the curriculum to clarify key knowledge, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for future learning.

Strengths

• Pupils’ behaviour is described as “exemplary” and “exceptional,” with older pupils ensuring everyone has someone to play with, helping them feel safe.
• Provision for pupils with SEND is “exceptional,” with staff demonstrating “expert knowledge” and working effectively with external professionals to meet individual needs.
• The early years provision is “Outstanding,” featuring a “highly ambitious curriculum” where children are “extremely well supported” to concentrate and achieve.
• Personal development is “exceptional,” offering a “rich set of experiences” including educational visits, cultural activities, and opportunities to become “respectful and active citizens.”
• The curriculum in subjects like science and design and technology is “well sequenced,” allowing pupils to build on prior learning and develop technical expertise.

Areas to improve

• Phonics teaching is not always consistent; the report states that “some lessons do not reflect the precise structure of the phonics programme” and that “phonics is not taught consistently well in all groups.”
• The school must ensure all staff have the expertise to teach phonics consistently well, as current inconsistencies mean “some pupils do not achieve as well as they should.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”