Phoenix Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Phoenix Infant and Nursery School is judged to be a good school where pupils “flourish” within a “friendly and caring ethos.” Leaders have successfully rewritten the curriculum to ensure knowledge builds progressively, resulting in strong outcomes in mathematics and positive behaviour.

Strengths

• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour, paying attention in lessons and moving around the school “calmly and sensibly.”
• The mathematics curriculum is described as “strong,” with pupils showing confidence when tackling new concepts and remembering knowledge over time.
• Staff provide “strong support” for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they can access the full curriculum.
• Governors and leaders prioritise staff well-being, with staff reporting positive support for their workload.
• The school promotes broader development through creative activities celebrating diverse faiths and cultures, such as “around the world at Phoenix” events.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure the new systematic, synthetic phonics programme enables pupils to develop quickly as “fluent, confident readers,” as some are still significantly behind.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving rigorous training and a “strong culture” encouraging pupils to talk to trusted adults about any worries.