Ashcroft Infants' School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 February 2026

Ashcroft Infants' School holds a special place in its community’s heart. Community members comment that it feels like there is a ‘warm hug as you walk through the door’. Leaders have high ambition for pupils. They aspire to the school’s motto of ‘providing the best start in school life for all children'. Overall, pupils rise to these high ambitions. Pupils, parents and carers love this small and caring infant school. One parent's comment was typical of many when they stated, ‘Ashcroft welcomed my child with open arms.’ This school prepares pupils well for junior school. Pupils love school life and learning. Because of this, they are eager to be in school and attend well. Pupils generally achieve well. However, inconsistencies in teaching sometimes slow the progress that some pupils make. Pupils feel safe and well cared for. The school’s core values of kindness, fairness, independence and resilience underpin all its work. Pupils develop a thirst to learn. They typically behave well in lessons and during social times. Pupils say, ‘Bullying is not allowed.’ They have faith that staff will sort out any issues if they should happen. Kind and caring staff ensure that they are safe, well cared for and make progress through the curriculum. They get to know pupils and their individual needs well. This enables them to reduce any barriers to learning they may have. Leaders instil a sense of responsibility in pupils. Younger pupils soon take on responsibilities in class, such as being class monitors. Pupils embrace opportunities to lead across the school, such as being school councillors, playground leaders and ‘eco warriors’. Pupils take these responsibilities seriously. For example, eco warriors take an active role in promoting recycling and encouraging pupils to walk to school to protect the environment.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should continue to provide training and support for staff so they implement the school’s phonics programme consistently well, enabling pupils to become fluent readers.
• Leaders should further support subject leaders to understand how well pupils learn their subject and to help staff deliver the curriculum consistently across year groups.
• Leaders should ensure staff consistently focus on developing older pupils’ writing skills so they use their spelling knowledge effectively when writing.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)