St James Infant School

Overview

St James Infant School is described as a "happy school" where pupils "enjoy attending" and feel welcome. The inspection found that the school is "ambitious for all pupils to achieve well," with particular focus on supporting disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. Overall, the school provides a high-quality education with effective leadership and outstanding early years provision.

Strengths

• Early years provision is rated "Outstanding," with "exceptional" planning and staff who "skilfully identify" children’s needs.
• Reading is a high priority, with a "consistent approach" to teaching and swift support for pupils who fall behind.
• The curriculum is "well planned," building knowledge over time and using clear structures like "I do, we do, you do."
• Pupils demonstrate positive behaviour and learn to be "tolerant and respectful," supported by initiatives like "friendship pals."
• Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is of "high quality," ensuring they make "strong progress."

Areas to improve

• In a few subjects, not all pupils are recalling all they have learned, as teachers are "not checking closely enough when it is appropriate to move pupils’ learning on."
• The school needs to verify that new strategies introduced to help pupils remember content have been "implemented fully and effectively" and have the "desired impact."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."