Southwater Infant Academy

Overview

Southwater Infant Academy is described as a “nurturing and friendly school” where pupils are happy and behave well. The inspection found that the school is led and managed effectively, with a strong curriculum in core subjects and high aspirations for all pupils.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a calm environment characterised by “high aspiration and mutual respect”, feeling safe and supported by trusted adults.
• The early years curriculum is “precisely identifies” key knowledge, giving children a strong start, while the English and mathematics curricula are “well established”.
• Early reading is prioritised, with teachers being “knowledgeable and consistent” in phonics instruction, ensuring pupils become confident readers.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities have their needs “identified carefully and met effectively”, allowing them to be fully included.
• Staff benefit from positive training and support, and trustees hold leaders “appropriately to account” with clear financial oversight.

Areas to improve

• Subject leaders in the foundation curriculum have not yet monitored the effectiveness of new curriculum sequences in helping pupils “know more and remember more over time”.
• Pupils are not always supported in making links between their PSHE learning and British values, such as understanding democracy through voting.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with rigorous reporting systems and staff training ensuring concerns are quickly spotted and acted upon.