Marston Green Infant Academy

Overview

Marston Green Infant Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The report describes a "welcoming and vibrant school" where pupils are proud to belong and achieve well, particularly in reading and mathematics. Leaders have an accurate understanding of strengths and priorities, fostering a close-knit team with high staff morale.

Strengths

• The curriculum is "carefully designed" and "memorable and fun," preparing pupils well for Year 3 with clear learning objectives.
• Staff provide a "nurturing approach," ensuring pupils feel "well cared for and safe," with effective support for emotional needs via the ‘sunshine club’.
• The school successfully fosters a "love of reading," with staff modelling reading well and providing extra phonics support to address previous outcomes.
• Pupils demonstrate high expectations and work hard, with effective identification and support for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Attendance has improved noticeably, with the proportion of persistently absent pupils declining due to careful monitoring and family engagement.

Areas to improve

• Staff must be supported to consistently provide activities that enable pupils to learn the intended curriculum content, as occasional lack of focus hinders knowledge building.
• The school should build on current actions to help pupils develop early writing skills, addressing basic errors in spelling, punctuation, and letter formation caused by a past focus on quantity over quality.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.