St Nicholas CofE Primary School , Wallingford

Overview

The inspection confirms that St Nicholas’ Church of England Infants’ School and Nursery Class “continues to be a good school.” Pupils “discover the joy of learning” in a friendly environment where they are “respectful” and strive to meet high expectations. The curriculum is designed to “stimulate pupils’ interests” and prepare them well for the future, with a strong emphasis on reading and mathematics.

Strengths

• Pupils “sparkle with excitement” when discussing their topics and are “eager to impart” their knowledge to others.
• The curriculum sets out “clearly what pupils will learn and when,” with “learning to read” sitting firmly at its centre.
• Teachers “promote reading very well,” and pupils have “remarkable recall” of stories, showing enthusiasm for books and authors.
• Children develop “firm foundations” in mathematics through creative play and well-planned opportunities using appropriate apparatus.
• Staff are praised for their “visible presence” and for being “considerate of teachers’ workload and staff well-being.”

Areas to improve

• Leaders should embed the structured synthetic phonics programme to ensure all pupils, including those with special educational needs, develop the necessary “confidence and fluency.”
• Leaders need to provide further training to address “minor variability” in curriculum implementation, ensuring all pupils build knowledge “securely” and consistently.

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective,” with comprehensive staff training and a system where “no one rests until pupils and families get the help they need.”