St Stephen's Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 1 December 2022

St Stephen's Infants is a friendly and welcoming school. Pupils are happy and say that everyone is kind. They understand how the school's 'Elli' characters help them to feel proud, be curious and undertake challenges. Staff have high expectations of pupil's behaviour and conduct. Pupils are polite and well mannered. They follow the school rules of 'ready, respectful and safe' well. They understand how these rules make the school a safe place to be. This starts in the early years. Children listen carefully, show high levels of independence and play well together. Pupils feel safe. Parents agree. Pupils value the positive relationships they have with staff. They know that adults will listen when they need to share their worries. Pupils understand what bullying is. They say it is rare. If it were to happen, they are confident that adults would deal with it quickly. Pupils enjoy a wide range of clubs, such as gymnastics, gardening, football, baking and sewing. They are proud of their roles as 'light', 'fruit' and 'tidy up' monitors. All parents that responded to the Ofsted survey would recommend the school. They talk positively about the visibility of the headteacher and the high levels of care that staff show to their children.

What the school should improve

• In some subjects, learning does not consistently build on what pupils have previously been taught. Teachers do not make clear what they want pupils to know or check well enough what pupils remember. As a result, some pupils struggle to recall important knowledge or make links to previous learning. This slows the progress they make. Leaders need to ensure that teachers check what pupils know and remember across all subjects and use this to inform future learning.

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