St Michael's Church of England Controlled Infant School

Overview

St Michael’s is described as a “warm and welcoming community” where pupils feel safe and happy due to positive relationships. The report highlights that pupils are “enthusiastic about their learning” and achieve well, particularly in reading, while demonstrating respectful behaviour and a strong sense of school values.

Strengths

• Pupils develop a “secure understanding of number” in Reception and confidently tackle mathematical concepts in later years.
• The school “prioritises reading,” ensuring most pupils read “accurately, fluently and with understanding” by the end of Year 2.
• Staff successfully adapt teaching to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with education, health and care plans.
• Clear routines help pupils concentrate, and personalised support has resulted in improved attendance.
• Governors provide “effective support and challenge for leaders,” and staff value the efforts made to manage their workload and well-being.

Areas to improve

• Teachers must “accurately check the knowledge that pupils have in all subjects” and plan sequences allowing sufficient practice, particularly in writing, to prevent learning gaps.
• Staff need support to design activities in some subjects that better match intended outcomes, ensuring pupils “learn and remember the essential knowledge.”

Safeguarding

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