Ryhope Infant School Academy

Overview

Ryhope Infant School Academy continues to be a good school, where leaders are ambitious about pupil learning and community engagement. Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum with meaningful local opportunities, such as fieldwork and arts, while demonstrating respect for their environment and each other. Strong relationships and effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) contribute to a safe and happy atmosphere.

Strengths

• Staff possess "expert knowledge of early reading and phonics," ensuring all pupils learn to read fluently with well-matched books.
• The curriculum for broader development is a strength, offering "meaningful opportunities to visit the local community" and activities like ukulele and gymnastics.
• Pupils’ behaviour reflects clear rules of "treating others with respect, following instructions and trying your best," with strong relationships between pupils and adults.
• The SENCo ensures clear systems for identifying SEND needs, with staff breaking down instructions into "manageable steps" to support learning.
• Staff feel "supported and valued" by leaders who actively support workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• Leaders should provide effective support to improve teachers’ subject knowledge in a few foundation subjects, where it is currently variable.
• Leaders should ensure teachers make regular checks on pupils’ understanding in subjects including mathematics, to better support learning progression.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong safeguarding culture" and thorough training for staff and governors.