Victoria Infant and Nursery School

Overview

The report describes a school with "high ambition for pupils to achieve well," where learners "work hard in lessons" and feel "happy and safe." Inspectors found that the curriculum is "ambitious" and consistently delivered in core subjects, ensuring pupils leave "well prepared for Year 3." The school fosters a culture of respect and independence, with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Staff use a "very consistent approach" to deliver the curriculum in reading, writing, and mathematics, readily addressing knowledge gaps.
• Pupils with SEND are supported by "skilled staff and well-chosen resources" that help them "successfully access the curriculum."
• Phonics teaching is effective, helping pupils become "confident readers" who experience "success when reading and the pleasure that comes from a good book."
• Governors are "effective in the way that they support and challenge the school," working in "close collaboration" to bring about improvements.
• The school creates "calm and purposeful classrooms" where pupils demonstrate respect and take on responsibilities such as being ‘Class VIPs’.

Areas to improve

• In a "small number of foundation subjects," learning activities do not sufficiently build understanding of key knowledge and vocabulary, leaving pupils’ knowledge "insecure." The school must ensure teachers design activities that "sufficiently cover the curriculum key content."

Safeguarding

The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."