Joydens Wood Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 October 2023

Pupils enjoy coming to school and learning here. Teachers and pupils have warm relationships. This helps everyone to feel happy, secure and well cared for. During the inspection, one pupil said, 'Teachers always look after the kids and make us feel safe.' Pupils behave well. They live up to the school value of 'respect', being kind to one another. The school ensures pupils' emotional development is well catered for. The personal, social and health education programme that the school teaches helps pupils understand how their brains work, helping them to manage their feelings effectively. The school has high expectations for pupils' learning. Pupils enjoy taking on challenges and striving to improve. The carefully designed curriculum means pupils can learn well. Parents are highly positive about the school. One parent summed up the views of many, saying, 'All the staff go above and beyond for the children.' Pupils have a strong sense of responsibility towards their school community and the wider world. The 'eco warriors' promote the importance of caring for the environment. Pupils learn the journey of food, from 'field to mouth', through their work on the school vegetable garden. The canteen staff cook the vegetables grown, helping pupils understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

What the school should improve

• Teachers do not always have the secure subject and pedagogical knowledge to implement the curriculum consistently. This means that pupils' knowledge does not always build systematically. The school needs to continue to improve teachers' expertise and skills to maximise pupils' learning across all subjects.

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