Marsden Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Marsden Infant and Nursery School is described as “warm and welcoming,” where pupils are “kind, respectful and tolerant” and enjoy strong relationships with staff. However, the report states that “the school’s ambitions for the pupils are not fully realised” because the curriculum is “not well sequenced and delivered,” meaning pupils “do not know and remember enough of the knowledge they need to succeed.”

Strengths

• Reading is prioritised with an “effective” phonics programme; pupils learn to read “quickly, fluently and with confidence.”
• Pupils have “excellent relationships with adults” and feel safe, with bullying being “rare.”
• Inclusion is central to the school; pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “thoroughly assessed” and “learn well.”
• Personal development is strong, with pupils developing an understanding of “fundamental British values” and feeling that “it is okay to be different.”
• Staff feel “well supported” and have confidence in the new leadership team’s direction.

Areas to improve

• Curriculum planning is “inconsistent”; the school must ensure all planning “clearly identifies the specific knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils should learn.”
• Teachers must “ensure that gaps in pupils’ knowledge are identified regularly” so learning activities are well matched to needs.
• In the early years, staff must ensure “all interactions are effective” by having a “clear understanding of the expected learning for each activity.”

Safeguarding

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