Northfields Infants and Nursery School

Overview

Northfields Infants and Nursery School is rated as ‘Requires improvement’ for overall effectiveness, though ‘Good’ for behaviour, personal development, and early years provision. Pupils are described as “enthusiastic learners” who maintain “friendly and respectful relationships” with staff. However, inconsistencies in teaching and insufficiently high expectations in some subjects hinder pupil progress.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate “Good” behaviour and attitudes, listening well and treating each other with kindness.
• The early years provision is “Good”, with a “well-structured curriculum” that sharply focuses on communication and language skills.
• Reading is a priority; the curriculum has improved, and most pupils “achieve well in reading” with effective targeted support for those falling behind.
• Personal development is “Good”, with pupils learning about diversity, democracy, and staying safe through opportunities like the school council.
• Staff well-being is a high priority for governors, and staff “appreciate this”.

Areas to improve

• Teaching in some subjects, including writing, is inconsistent; a “lack of formative assessment” means misconceptions are not addressed quickly enough.
• Some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) lack appropriate adaptations, causing them to “lose time” waiting for guidance rather than working independently.
• The school has not acted swiftly enough to implement recommendations from the previous inspection, particularly regarding high expectations for work quality and progress in core subjects.

Safeguarding

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