St John's Catholic Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 28 November 2023

Pupils, and children in the early years, enjoy attending St John's Catholic Infant School. Pupils consistently meet the high expectations that the school sets for their achievement. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Most pupils, and children in the early years, achieve well. Pupils' attitudes towards their learning are exemplary. From the start of the early years, children learn to focus on each task and to take responsibility for their own learning. For example, during the inspection, children in the Reception Year were fully engrossed in a phonics matching game, and they waited patiently to take their turn. Pupils in key stage 1 also give their full attention to lessons, and there is rarely any disruption. Pupils said that if there was an incident of misbehaviour, they trust adults to deal with it quickly. Pupils at this school are friendly, caring and respectful of others. They are happy. The school enhances pupils' learning of the curriculum through carefully organised trips, visits and outdoor learning activities. For example, pupils in key stage 1 visit a local historical town as part of their history topic. These opportunities add considerable value to pupils' wider personal development. Pupils benefit from learning how to take care of their physical and mental health. In addition to this, they embrace opportunities to take part in local community events. For example, pupils recently raised money for a local hospice.

What the school should improve

• From time to time, some staff do not design learning activities consistently well. This hinders the depth to which some pupils, and children in the early years, learn new knowledge and skills. The school should ensure that staff are well trained to design learning activities that enable pupils, and children in the early years, to flourish.
• Some pupils who are receiving appropriate additional support for their learning and developmental needs are not placed on the SEND support register when they should be. This means that, at the end of Year 2, the schools that some pupils move on to are occasionally unaware that these pupils should receive SEND support. The school should ensure that all pupils who are receiving additional SEND support are recorded on the SEND register. This is to ensure that pupils' new schools are fully aware of the support that has already been provided.

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