Newton Solney CofE (Aided) Infant School

Overview

Newton Solney C of E (Aided) Infant School is judged as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, maintaining high standards since its previous ‘Outstanding’ rating. The report describes the school as a “caring and inclusive” environment where pupils feel safe and enjoy their education, supported by an “ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum.”

Strengths

• Teachers deliver lessons effectively, using clear explanations and questioning to check understanding, ensuring pupils “remember what they have learned.”
• The school has “prioritised reading,” with daily phonics instruction and well-matched books helping pupils develop “confidence and fluency.”
• Staff identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) well, adapting teaching so these pupils can “access the curriculum” and achieve well.
• Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities, including weekly forest school, trips, and after-school clubs, fostering positive personal development.
• Leaders and governors are supportive, with staff feeling “well supported” and governors possessing the necessary information to monitor educational quality.

Areas to improve

• Some classroom activities do not always extend learning, meaning some pupils “do not achieve as well as they could”; the school must ensure activities build on and extend learning for all.
• Staff do not always challenge boisterous behaviour during unstructured times like breaktimes, leading to inconsistent expectations; the school must ensure all staff address poor behaviour at playtimes.
• Safeguarding records lack sufficient detail regarding actions taken, and governors do not always have the knowledge needed to effectively monitor safeguarding arrangements.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” though it notes that records require minor improvements to ensure clarity and that governors need better knowledge to monitor these processes.