Park Hall Infant Academy

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 November 2022

Leaders' vision is for all pupils to be successful, confident, enthusiastic, caring and happy. This vision is a reality. Key stage 1 pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well in most subjects. They attain consistently strong outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics. The youngest children in the early years seek out conversation. However, staff do not plan for, and seize enough, opportunities to promote and develop children's language. Pupils enjoy school. They are proud of the roles they hold, such as school councillors. Pupils know that their peers voted for them and that this is a fair system. Pupils understand that with roles come responsibilities. They are keen to do the job well and make a difference to their school. Pupils behave well and are safe. They know that bullying is not acceptable and that there are different types of bullying. Bullying is not tolerated, but if it does happen, pupils trust that an adult will sort it out. Pupils understand that 'people who bully need help and may be sad too'. Pupils show the school values through their words and actions.

What the school should improve

• Teaching, in a few subjects, does not enable pupils to remember important curriculum content as well as they need to. As a result, in these subjects, pupils do not develop a greater depth of understanding. Subject leaders need to identify the key building blocks of knowledge from Nursery to Year 2 so that teachers can deliver the intended curriculum in a structured, well-sequenced and consistent manner.
• The teaching of phonics is not enabling some lower-attaining pupils to progress as well as they should. As a result, pupils who struggle to learn to read are not reaching fluency quickly enough. Leaders should ensure that the teaching of phonics is effective and supports all pupils to read with good fluency.
• Staff do not deliver the curriculum in the early years well enough. This means that pupils are not provided with sufficient opportunities to demonstrate their attitudes and behaviours through the characteristics of effective learning. Leaders need to ensure that staff deliver the curriculum in a way that successfully engages and challenges children and develops their vocabulary across the seven areas of the curriculum.

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