Thelwall Infant School

Overview

Thelwall Infant School is described as a place where pupils feel part of a "friendly school community" and are "happy." Leaders maintain "ambitious" expectations for all pupils, resulting in high achievement, particularly in the early years which are judged "Outstanding." The school fosters strong relationships, with staff listening to pupils’ concerns and dealing quickly with any incidents of bullying.

Strengths

• The early years curriculum is "ambitious" and well-sequenced, ensuring most children are "ready for the demands of the Year 1 curriculum."
• Leaders prioritise developing a "love of reading," with effective phonics teaching that helps pupils become "confident, fluent and accurate readers."
• Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "access the same curriculum as their peers" and "achieve well" due to effective adaptations.
• Staff benefit from "regular, appropriate training" and are "well equipped to teach across the curriculum."
• The governing board and trustees "support and challenge leaders appropriately," while being "considerate of staff’s workload and well-being."

Areas to improve

• In a "small number of subjects," previous "weak curriculums" have left some pupils with "gaps in their subject knowledge." Leaders must ensure these pupils learn the missed knowledge to "make sense of new learning."

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with staff well-trained to spot risks and leaders responding to concerns in a "timely manner."