St Stephen's Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 23 January 2024

Pupils and staff at this school keenly describe the warm and vibrant community that they are part of. There is a genuine interest taken by all to understand pupils as individuals. As such, pupils are well known and there is great emphasis on their nurture and care. Pupils' emotional well-being has a high priority. The school has trained specialist staff to provide support when needed. There is excitement at playtimes, where pupils enjoy using the range of activities and clubs on offer. Positive relationships exist throughout the school and pupils feel safe. They know that staff will listen to any concerns they may have and quickly act on them. Behaviour across the school is calm and most pupils behave sensibly, both in and out of the classroom. They are polite and well mannered towards each other. They make visitors feel welcome and are proud of their school. Pupils are keen to achieve their best and appreciate celebrating their achievements with their peers. They are curious about their learning and have regular opportunities to explore and practise what they learn. Pupils also gain a wider understanding of the world through the range of opportunities that extend beyond the curriculum. This includes valuing the range of leadership roles such as being members of the school council.

What the school should improve

• In some of the more recently developed foundation subject areas of the curriculum, staff do not always design tasks which enable pupils to build knowledge systematically. Some staff may not always identify gaps in pupils' knowledge quickly enough so that they can be addressed promptly. As a result, some pupils do not always learn the intended curriculum as well as they could. Leaders should continue to support teachers in implementing the curriculum effectively in all areas.

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