Ryton Community Infant School

Overview

Ryton Community Infant School continues to be a good school, providing a calm and purposeful environment where pupils feel safe and confident. Leaders have implemented effective strategies to help pupils catch up on learning lost during the pandemic, particularly in reading and mathematics, while fostering strong relationships and a positive culture.

Strengths

• Pupils talk with enthusiasm about educational visits and activities, such as dance festivals and theatre trips, which enhance the curriculum.
• Staff model caring relationships, ensuring pupils feel safe; bullying is rare, and staff resolve problems promptly.
• The curriculum is well-planned, with clear knowledge and vocabulary goals; staff receive training to ensure subjects are taught effectively.
• Reading provision is strong, with careful grouping and matched books helping pupils develop fluency and confidence.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported through close collaboration with external agencies and targeted interventions.

Areas to improve

• Attendance for some pupils is not good, causing them to miss too much learning; leaders must continue supporting families to ensure regular attendance.
• Some pupils have gaps in their long-term memory because they do not revisit important learning often enough; leaders should revise which knowledge needs regular reinforcement.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a strong culture where staff receive regular training, know pupils well, and report concerns promptly.