Martin Frobisher Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 June 2022

All pupils and staff in this school are 'proud to be blue.' There is a strong sense of community. Pupils feel safe and happy. They say confidently that if they have a problem or a worry, an adult will help them. Staff have high expectations for what pupils can achieve. They have created a curriculum which pupils are excited to learn about. Leaders regularly think about how they can make the curriculum even better for pupils. Pupils move around school in a calm and orderly way. They are polite to each other and adults. Pupils understand what bullying is and what it isn't. They are confident to report any concerns and that adults will deal with them quicky. Older pupils have a mature understanding that some other pupils need more support and help with their behaviour. Relationships between adults and pupils are very strong. There is mutual respect and care in the interactions that happen around school. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning. They begin their work quickly and with enthusiasm. Pupils have some opportunities to be of service to others in school. For example, they have opportunities to be dining hall helpers or to support with games during lunchtime.

What the school should improve

• The approach to identifying and closing gaps for pupils working below peers is not well connected. As a result, leaders do not have enough detailed information about the impact of the additional support these pupils receive. Leaders should ensure that the gaps in knowledge, the support needed for pupils and the checks on the impact this is having are clearly defined. Leaders can then check that these gaps in knowledge and understanding are being closed so that pupils are catching up as quickly as possible.
• Some of the teaching of phonics is not precise. As a result, some pupils do not learn quickly enough how to segment and blend words with fluency. Leaders should ensure that all staff model each part of reading with consistency and fidelity so that pupils become fluent readers as quickly as possible.
• Leaders have not ensured that all staff in the early years have a strong understanding of the curriculum or the most effective pedagogical approaches to support children. As a result, some interactions and activities do not give pupils the best chance to learn what they need to be ready for Year 1 and beyond. Leaders should ensure that all staff within the early years understand the early years curriculum well and how to implement this in the classroom within each interaction.

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