Oakdale Infants' School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 September 2023

Oakdale is a caring and nurturing school where pupils feel safe and are kept safe. Pupils show high levels of respect to others. They are considerate and listen to their friends. Behaviour is good. Pupils say people are kind and that bullying is not tolerated. The school's ethos of respect, responsibility, resilience, resourcefulness and the ability to reflect is evident each day. Pupils strive to be a 'Charter Hero', when they are recognised as demonstrating these values. Staff expect every child to succeed from the Nursery onwards. Children in early years get off to a good start and settle well into school routines. Leaders make sure parents and carers are involved in the life of the school. Parents value this. Pupils learn a typically ambitious curriculum and produce work of good quality in different subjects. Pupils enjoy visits that enhance the curriculum, such as to the Tower of London and the National Maritime Museum. Pupils learn about the importance of healthy living and participate in events such as Walk to School Week and 'stay and play' sessions.

What the school should improve

• The curriculum in Year 1 does not consistently build from the areas of learning in the early years on what pupils already know and remember. This limits some children's readiness for key stage 1. The school should ensure that the curriculum in Year 1 builds cumulatively in each area of learning in the early years. This will also support subject leaders to better understand and check the impact of the curriculum on pupils' learning across the school.

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