Newlaithes Infant School

Overview

Newlaithes Infant School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories. Pupils are described as ‘happy to attend school’, feeling safe and keen to learn, with high expectations for behaviour that result in lessons being ‘rarely disrupted’. The school fosters a strong sense of community and ensures most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.

Strengths

• Leaders have designed an ‘ambitious’ curriculum ordered in a ‘logical way’, helping pupils build the knowledge and skills needed for junior school.
• Early years provision is effective, with skilled staff harnessing children’s interests to build confidence and independence through imaginative play and structured routines.
• Reading is prioritised from the start, with ‘meticulous’ checks on phonics ensuring timely support for those falling behind, resulting in most pupils becoming ‘confident and fluent readers’ by Year 2.
• Staff demonstrate ‘good subject knowledge’ and provide effective support for all learners, including those with SEND, who follow the same curriculum as their peers.
• Governors and leaders consider staff workload and well-being, ensuring staff feel ‘valued and appreciated’.

Areas to improve

• In some subjects, teachers do not ‘identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge well enough’, which limits aspects of achievement; leaders must ensure teachers accurately address these gaps so pupils ‘know and remember more over time’.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are ‘effective’, with staff receiving regular training to identify risks and leaders following up concerns diligently to ensure pupils and families receive support.