Unstone St Mary's Nursery & Infant School

Overview

Unstone St Mary’s Nursery & Infant School is rated ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, marking significant improvement from its previous ‘Requires improvement’ judgement. The report describes a happy, inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and are held to high expectations, supported by a ‘broad and ambitious curriculum’ and dedicated staff.

Strengths

• Pupils are ‘happy’ and ‘secure’, with ‘well-established routines’ and positive relationships with staff who ‘care for them’.
• The curriculum is ‘broad and ambitious’, with clear plans for key knowledge and vocabulary in subjects like history and science.
• Staff use assessment ‘well’ in mathematics and phonics to identify and address misconceptions, though this is less developed in foundation subjects.
• The school is ‘highly inclusive’, ensuring pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are involved in all aspects of school life.
• Personal development is promoted effectively through assemblies that help pupils debate ‘big ideas’ and understand British Values.

Areas to improve

• The school must ensure the phonics programme is ‘effectively monitored’ to address occasions where delivery lacks ‘sufficient precision’ and pure sounds are not consistently used.
• Plans for pupils with SEND need more detail, as current targets and strategies ‘lack precision’ and clarity regarding progress.
• Leaders should refine assessment approaches in foundation subjects to quickly identify and address ‘gaps in pupils’ learning’.

Safeguarding

The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’.