St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infants School

Overview

This is a “caring and welcoming school” where pupils are described as “happy and safe” and receive “effective pastoral support.” The report highlights that staff build positive relationships with pupils, who generally follow routines and respond well to high expectations. Most pupils achieve well, supported by an “ambitious curriculum” and a strong focus on developing language and vocabulary.

Strengths

• The school has “improved the teaching of early reading,” introducing a clear structure that helps pupils become “confident and fluent readers.”
• Pupils demonstrate strong personal development through community contributions, such as acting as ‘Legacy leaders’ who develop gardens and support local foodbanks.
• An “ambitious curriculum” allows pupils to build knowledge in “small steps,” with adults checking progress and providing extra help where needed.
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive “effective support in class” through a clear identification process.
• The school maintains “robust procedures” for checking absence and punctuality, which are having a “positive impact on attendance.”

Areas to improve

• Staff must ensure that “expectations of behaviour are applied consistently,” as inconsistency means some pupils “do not learn as well as they could.”

Safeguarding

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