Somercotes Infant and Nursery School

Overview

Somercotes Infant and Nursery School is described as a “well-led, nurturing school” where pupils feel “happy and safe” and “thoroughly enjoy learning.” The inspection highlights an “ambitious and well thought out” curriculum that prepares pupils effectively for junior school, with particular praise for the “Outstanding” early years provision.

Strengths

• Early years provision is rated “Outstanding,” with children settling quickly and becoming “focused and active learners.”
• Reading is the “mainstay of the school day,” with an “expertly implemented” phonics programme and books “precisely matched” to pupils’ stages.
• The curriculum is “meticulously sequenced” in most subjects, with content “skilfully connected” to help pupils “know and remember more over time.”
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “well supported,” with parents noting support that goes “above and beyond” expectations.
• Staff receive regular training and use a “fix-it” part of lessons to address misconceptions, ensuring pupils build knowledge effectively.

Areas to improve

• In a “small number of subjects,” key knowledge is “not clearly identified,” resulting in pupils knowing and remembering “less than they should.”
• The school needs to “identify clearly the key knowledge” in these foundation subjects to improve lesson effectiveness and pupil retention.
• Absence rates remain “higher than they should be,” although the report notes that attendance is currently improving.

Safeguarding

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