Clarkson Infants School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 February 2022

Clarkson Infants is a friendly and happy school. Pupils enjoy their learning and spending time with their friends. They say that learning is fun. Pupils talk happily about the things they have done and learned about. Pupils love their teachers, who help them to feel safe. Pupils behave well in their classrooms, in the playground and as they move about the school. Pupils say that there is no bullying at their school because 'teachers wouldn't let people do that'. Posters showing the school's 'behaviour animals' are displayed around the building. These are not a gimmick but something that is hugely valued by pupils. They work very hard to earn a sticker showing that they have been a respectful elephant, a team worker bee, a persistent tortoise, an independent cat or an aim high giraffe. Pupils wear their stickers with pride and enjoy showing them off to people. Leaders are determined that pupils will do as well as they possibly can. They have made sure that pupils now make better progress than they did before. Most pupils are ready for the demands of junior school by the time they leave Clarkson Infants at the end of Year 2.

What the school should improve

• As a result of the pandemic, and because of their very low starting points, some pupils' attainment is lower than it should be, particularly in writing. Leaders should take action to ensure that delivery of the curriculum is highly effective, throughout the school and in all subjects, so that pupils catch up by the time they leave the school at the end of Year 2.
• A small group of pupils are persistently absent from school. This means that they miss parts of the curriculum being delivered and do not get enough opportunities to practise what they are taught. Leaders should continue to find ways to reduce the absence of those pupils who most frequently miss school.

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