Moulsham Infant School

Overview

Moulsham Infant School continues to be a good school, providing a caring ethos where pupils are “motivated learners” who behave well and feel safe. The report highlights a curriculum that goes beyond national expectations, with teachers possessing secure subject knowledge and effectively addressing learning gaps. While most pupils thrive, the inspection identifies specific needs regarding reading catch-up for some children and strategies to reduce persistent absence.

Strengths

• Pupils embody school values of “independence, curiosity, ambition, resilience and empathy” and are “confident to talk about their learning.”
• Leaders have constructed a curriculum that “goes beyond the expectations of the national curriculum,” ensuring pupils remember what they have learned well.
• Staff quickly identify difficulties, ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “fully included in learning.”
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff alert to risks and leaders acting “quickly to get the support needed.”
• Governors “challenge and support school leaders effectively” and have an accurate understanding of the quality of education.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the new phonics programme and additional support help a small number of pupils “catch up as quickly as possible” with their reading.
• Leaders should continue to review strategies to reduce “persistent absences” so that these pupils do not miss out on high-quality teaching and develop gaps in knowledge.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” noting that staff are well trained, concerns are passed on promptly, and leaders work well with outside agencies to support vulnerable pupils.