Market Drayton Infant & Nursery School

Overview

Market Drayton Infant & Nursery School continues to be a good school, described as a "warm, welcoming community" where pupils are "happy and safe." Leaders prioritise curriculum and well-being, fostering high expectations and a strong ethos of collaboration, positivity, respect, and aspiration.

Strengths

• The teaching of early reading is a strength, with a rigorous phonics programme helping pupils learn to read "fluently and quickly."
• Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is effective, ensuring they participate in a "broad and balanced curriculum" with peers.
• Staff maintain high expectations for behaviour, with bullying not tolerated and swift action taken to resolve issues.
• Close relationships between staff and parents help children settle quickly, while a family worker provides valuable support for vulnerable families.
• The curriculum is well-structured, with teachers making explicit the important vocabulary pupils need and using quizzes to check learning.

Areas to improve

• Some new subject leaders do not provide teachers with "precise feedback" needed to further improve their teaching practice in a few subjects.
• There are inconsistencies in the teaching of spelling, meaning some pupils do not always apply their knowledge to their writing.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with rigorous processes ensuring it is everyone’s priority and staff are well-trained to handle concerns.