The Avenue Infant School

Overview

The Avenue Infant School is described as a “caring and welcoming community” where leaders are ambitious for pupil success. The report highlights strong provision in early years, reading, and mathematics, alongside effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• The curriculum is “well designed” in early years, reading, and mathematics, with key knowledge precisely identified and building on prior learning.
• Phonics teaching is “well organised,” with staff receiving necessary training and struggling readers receiving extra help.
• Provision for pupils with SEND is a “strength of the school,” featuring timely identification, personalised plans, and appropriate lesson adaptations.
• Behaviour is positive, guided by three “golden rules” that pupils know well, supported by a fair rewards system.
• Leaders offer a wide range of enrichment opportunities through “The Avenue School Enrichment Promise,” fostering personal development and respect.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must identify key knowledge and the precise order of learning in foundation subjects, as current plans lack sufficient detail and clarity on small learning steps.
• Assessment in the wider curriculum needs development to be more precise, allowing teachers to effectively plug gaps in learning and address misconceptions.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff receiving regular training and responding quickly to concerns to ensure pupils receive necessary help.