Oldfield Park Infant School

Overview

Oldfield Park Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report describes a welcoming environment where pupils feel a strong sense of belonging and attain well from their starting points. Leaders have constructed a well-designed curriculum that enhances learning through tangible experiences, ensuring pupils are well-prepared for their next stage of education.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and understand their ‘learning rights and responsibilities’, rising to high expectations for behaviour and achievement.
• The curriculum is well-sequenced, with teachers building new knowledge on prior learning and providing ‘well-designed experiences’ such as visits and role-playing.
• There is a ‘praiseworthy culture of inclusivity’, with pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receiving tailored support and progressing well.
• Reading is a high priority, with well-trained staff teaching phonics from the start and creating engaging spaces like ‘reading lofts’ to develop a passion for books.
• Trust leaders and governors provide effective support and challenge, maintaining an accurate understanding of the school’s performance.

Areas to improve

• Systems for checking how well pupils have secured new knowledge, particularly in early reading, are sometimes underdeveloped, hindering the identification of learning gaps.
• Staff do not always routinely address pupils’ handwriting and letter formation errors, leading to repeated mistakes and slower progress for some.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.