Marlborough Infant School

Overview

Marlborough Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. Pupils thrive in a nurturing environment where they achieve well and are “very well prepared for the future.” The school fosters a deep sense of belonging, with high expectations and strong relationships between adults and pupils.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “very carefully considered and continuously refined,” teaching important knowledge in a logical order that helps pupils build securely on prior learning.
• Staff have “good subject knowledge” and use subject-specific language effectively, designing learning that captures pupils’ interests, such as using rhymes and songs in early years.
• Reading is a clear priority, with consistent phonics teaching and extra help provided for pupils who fall behind to ensure they catch up with peers.
• Relationships are “very strong,” with adults acting as excellent role models; pupils behave very well and move around the school in a “calm and orderly manner.”
• The school is inclusive, quickly identifying needs for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to remove barriers to learning.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers do not check what pupils know with enough rigour, leading to missed misconceptions or gaps in knowledge.
• The school should ensure teachers know the best ways to systematically check that pupils have secured their learning before moving on.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.