Whitchurch CofE Infant and Nursery Academy

Overview

Whitchurch CofE Infant and Nursery Academy continues to be a good school, characterised by a "clear sense of joy and positivity." Leaders have high ambitions for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and have recently sharpened the curriculum focus to ensure pupils "are learning more over time."

Strengths

• Pupils are "polite, friendly and behave well," knowing that teachers will resolve problems "straight away."
• Reading provision is strong, with staff well trained in early reading and pupils rapidly gaining fluency through appropriate book choices.
• The provision for pupils with SEND is "well led," with accurate identification of needs and effective support from specialists.
• The early years environment is "calm, well organised" and fosters independence, confidence, and collaboration among children.
• There is a rich extra-curricular offer, including forest school, clubs, and pupil-led initiatives like the ‘Team Ted’ group.

Areas to improve

• Some teachers lack sufficient subject knowledge to implement the curriculum effectively, causing pupils’ learning to slow in certain subjects.
• Some subject leaders lack the expertise to identify precise development points, leading to inconsistencies in lesson delivery.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong culture of safeguarding" where staff receive regular training on contextual issues and act quickly on concerns.