Yaxley Infant School

Overview

Pupils at Yaxley Infant School are described as happy and independent, benefiting from an ‘ambitious’ curriculum and ‘calm and positive relationships’ with staff. The inspection found that leaders provide effective support, resulting in a school environment characterised by a ‘family feel’ and high levels of parental satisfaction.

Strengths

• Staff encourage pupils to be ‘independent, curious learners’, preparing them well for the next stage of education.
• The curriculum is delivered with ‘skilful use of questioning’ and first-hand experiences, helping pupils remember key concepts.
• Most pupils learn to read well, with staff following the phonics programme effectively and providing appropriate catch-up sessions.
• Children in the early years receive strong support to ‘regulate and express their feelings’, fostering confidence.
• The governing body carries out its statutory responsibilities well, actively monitoring staff well-being and workload.

Areas to improve

• Leaders must ensure a small number of pupils receive enough regular opportunities to practise sounds and words to improve reading fluency.
• The specific needs of some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not always correctly identified, leading to imprecise targets and slower progress in reading and writing.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff skilled at noticing signs of risk and concerns recorded and followed up promptly.