Holmesdale Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 24 September 2024

Pupils, parents and carers praise the school's happy and nurturing ethos. Parents typically say that their children are well cared for by dedicated, approachable staff. Pupils use words such as 'kind' and amazing' to describe their teachers. Pupils behave well in lessons and around school. They respond to teachers' high expectations and follow well-established routines. Pupils enjoy earning rewards, such as 'star of the day', 'sports star' or 'creative star'. These opportunities motivate pupils to try hard and do their best, in line with the school's motto to 'be the best me I can be'. The school promotes pupils' physical and mental health and well-being effectively. For example, the very well-developed and spacious outdoor areas provide plenty of scope for energetic and imaginative play. Pupils can also experience nature through the wildlife areas as they regularly explore the outdoor environment. There is a range of after-school activities offered by the school, to nurture pupils' talents and interests. Visits to museums and activity centres enrich pupils' experiences beyond the local community. Children in the early years get off to a strong start, due to the recent, widespread improvements in this part of the school's provision.

What the school should improve

• The revised early reading curriculum is in the early stages of implementation. The impact on pupils' reading fluency and confidence is not fully realised. Some pupils have residual gaps in their phonological knowledge that have now begun to be addressed. The school should ensure that the ambitious new curriculum for early reading and phonics is securely embedded and consistently implemented to enable all pupils to quickly develop as fluent, confident readers.

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