Attention needed at Riders Infant School following Ofsted inspection which found the 'quality of teaching is inconsistent'
The outcome of a school’s Ofsted inspection has been published
Leaders should continue addressing gaps in teaching at an infant school following an Ofsted inspection which found it needs attention.
Riders Infant School, in Kingsclere Avenue, Leigh Park, has been described as a kind and caring school where pupils are “happy and feel safe” in an Ofsted report which was published on May 18.
The inspection, which took place on March 3, found the school currently “needs attention” in all areas apart from its early years which is working at the expected standard.
The report said: “Pupils describe staff as kind and caring. They are confident that adults will listen to them and take action if they have any worries. When bullying occurs, staff deal with it promptly and effectively. Pupils feel known and valued. They are supported to be ready to participate in school life and to learn.”
The inspector highlighted that the curriculum is thoughtfully planned in early years to ensure children make secure progress across each area of learning and there is a strong focus on developing language and communication through phonics.
The Ofsted continued: “Adaptations for pupils who face barriers to their learning are not as effective as they need to be. As a result, gaps in basic skills remain and prevent some pupils from being fully ready for the next stage of their education.
“Leaders understand the strengths and weaknesses in teaching across the school. They have begun to take appropriate action to achieve more consistent quality. This includes providing appropriate support for staff to teach subject curriculums well. However, this work is still at an early stage, and its impact is not yet secure.”
Attendance is not where it should be and too many students miss school on a regular basis, but a dedicated team is now working with families to rebuild confidence and remove barriers so that pupils can come to school more often. This work is in the early stages and the report said staff should continue this.
The inspection explained: “The school has faced significant challenges over time, including an increasing number of pupils who join with barriers to their learning. Staff typically provide high levels of adult support for these pupils. Wider adaptations that help pupils become independent learners are used less often. Leaders have begun to monitor interventions more closely, particularly in phonics. However, they do not check the effectiveness of interventions with enough precision.
“Leaders have recently strengthened the school’s personal development offer. These changes are appropriate and reflect the needs of the school community. However, the full impact of this work is not yet consistently evident for pupils, including those who are disadvantaged.”