Westdale Infant and Nursery

Overview

Westdale Infant School is confirmed as a ‘good school’, described as a ‘welcoming and friendly place’ where pupils are ‘kind, respectful and work hard’. Leaders have created an ‘engaging curriculum’ that fosters resilience and confidence, with staff providing strong pastoral support and ensuring pupils feel safe.

Strengths

• The curriculum is ‘ambitious and engaging’, with clear sequences of learning that help pupils ‘build on prior learning over time’.
• Reading is a key priority; staff teach phonics well, and pupils, including those with SEND, ‘read fluently’ and ‘love to read’.
• Children in the early years make a ‘positive start’ in a ‘vocabulary-rich environment’ with strong staff relationships.
• Behaviour is excellent; classrooms are ‘calm and harmonious’, and pupils are ‘eager to contribute to discussions’.
• Staff well-being is supported, with leaders listening to staff and helping them ‘manage their workload’.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must develop systems in some foundation subjects to check what pupils know, ensuring they can ‘identify gaps in pupils’ precise knowledge’ and plan future learning accordingly.
• The quality of the outdoor environment in the early years does not match indoor areas; leaders should ensure it ‘supports the implementation of the curriculum equally well’.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders prioritising safety, staff receiving regular training, and concerns being escalated swiftly to keep pupils safe.