St James' Church of England Aided Infant School

Overview

St James’ Church of England Aided Infant School continues to be a good school, described as a “welcoming, inclusive school at the heart of its community.” Pupils feel safe and happy, engaging well with an ambitious curriculum that prioritises reading and personal development.

Strengths

• The school has designed an “ambitious curriculum” with clear plans for key knowledge, supported by effective checks on pupil learning.
• Reading is a top priority; the phonics programme is “thorough” and staff are “knowledgeable,” helping pupils, including those for whom English is not their first language, to learn to read well.
• Pupils are “friendly and respectful,” with high attendance and enthusiasm for subjects like mathematics.
• The school provides a variety of extra-curricular activities and visits that “broaden pupils’ experience and build their confidence.”
• Leaders are “reflective” and governors have an “accurate view of the school,” supporting staff well-being and workload.

Areas to improve

• Goals for a few pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are “not precise enough” or broken down into small enough steps, meaning some learning opportunities are not maximised.
• On occasion, “low-level, off-task behaviour goes unchallenged,” preventing a small number of pupils from participating fully in lessons.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.