Oakley Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 February 2023

Respectful and kind relationships are at the heart of this school. As one parent said, reflecting the views of many, '[Pupils are part of] a friendly and caring school that creates the perfect environment for learning.' A commitment to the vision of 'strive, thrive and achieve together' is shared by the whole school community. Pupils are exceptionally considerate towards one another. This creates an inclusive environment where everyone feels confident and safe. Bullying is almost unheard of, and pupils trust adults to help if they have any worries. The inclusive ethos means pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), flourish. Everyone is valued and respected. Leaders have high expectations of what all pupils can achieve. As a result, children get off to a strong start in Reception. They benefit from an exceptional range of thoughtful opportunities to develop socially and to learn new things. A focus on rights, responsibility and respect underpins every aspect of school life. Because this is interwoven so deeply, pupils are motivated to behave remarkably well. Every pupil plays their part in creating this positive environment, in which everyone has a right to learn and be treated kindly.

What the school should improve

• A clear approach to assessment in the foundation subjects is not yet consistently in place. As a result, teachers and leaders do not always know how secure pupils are in their knowledge acquisition. Leaders know that they now need to establish a clear systematic approach to checking what pupils know and remember so that knowledge is embedded, and pupils can use it fluently.

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