Icknield Infant and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 June 2025

Pupils at this school care deeply about there being 'no outsiders' at this school. They learn about and celebrate differences. Pupils believe everyone should be treated fairly. When children join in Nursery, they are quick to learn the school's 'golden values'. As a result, pupils understand why kindness and respect are important. Leaders expect pupils to behave well. In early years, children learn the routines quickly and know what is expected of them. Where a small minority in Nursery find this difficult, they are supported by staff. However, the school does not follow the behaviour policy consistently. As a result, too many older pupils disrupt learning. Pupils say they feel safe at school because of trusted adults. Sometimes, the school does not expect enough of pupils and what they can achieve. This means some pupils do not do as well as they could. Pupils enjoy learning. They enjoy the range of subjects taught. Parents and pupils are positive about the wide range of opportunities on offer. These are well matched to pupils' talents and interests. Pupils enjoy activities such as junk-modelling and yoga club. Planned experiences, such as 'castles day', help pupils remember important learning and vocabulary.

What the school should improve

• Staff are not clear on the support and adaptations that some pupils with SEND need. Where this is the case, pupils with SEND do not access learning as well as they should. The school should ensure that staff have the information they need to enable all pupils to access the curriculum well.
• Expectations for the standard of pupils' work are variable. Therefore, some pupils' work is not of a high quality, and they do not achieve as well as they could. The school should provide support and guidance so that all staff have equally high expectations of pupils in all subjects.
• The new behaviour policy is not applied consistently. Some pupils do not behave well in lessons and around the school. As a result, pupils' learning is disrupted. The school should ensure that all staff have the required knowledge and skills to use the school's strategies successfully.
• The school's strategies to promote pupil attendance are not as effective as they should be. Some pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. This means that they miss important learning and have gaps in their knowledge. The school should ensure that strategies to improve attendance are effective.

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