St John the Evangelist CofE Infant and Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 March 2025

The school is a welcoming and inclusive environment. It expects pupils to live out its core value 'for the good of all through curiosity, creativity and love'. Relationships between staff and pupils are based on mutual respect and trust. As a result, pupils feel safe and happy. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour and achievement. From the youngest children to the oldest pupils, teachers notice and praise pupils' positive actions and attitudes. This enhances the school's highly harmonious ethos. Pupils are proud to take on leadership responsibilities, such as eco-councillors and as members of the school council. Every part of the school day, from breakfast club to after- school clubs, has a clear purpose to build pupils' confidence, independence and character. Most pupils leave school ready for the next stage of their education. Pupils enjoy the experiences which bring their learning to life. They talk excitedly about trips to the Town Hall to meet the mayor and learn about the democratic system and visits to the woodland area to learn about the local habitat. Pupils showcase their sporting talents by taking part in tournaments in the area. They relish participating in the cricket, dance and multi-sport clubs.

What the school should improve

• Sometimes, teachers do not identify and address some weaknesses in pupils' understanding well enough. When this happens, some pupils do not learn as well as they could. The school should ensure teachers are suitably equipped to check pupils' learning so they can rectify misconceptions quickly and effectively.
• Occasionally, staff do not identify with sufficient precision key gaps in pupils' phonics knowledge. Additionally, the books that some older pupils read do not help them practise the sounds they have learned. Consequently, some pupils do not learn to read fluently. The school should refine its approach to early reading and ensure books are more accurately matched to pupils' reading knowledge.
• A number of pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, do not attend school often enough and are persistently absent. This means they miss out on important learning and vital school experiences. The school should ensure that its ongoing work leads to high attendance levels for all pupils.

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