The Avenue Infant School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 10 May 2023

The Avenue Infant School is a caring and welcoming community. Leaders make sure that everyone is part of the school. Pupils know how important it is for everyone to feel included. Leaders want the pupils to achieve well. Adults expect pupils to behave well. Leaders have identified three 'golden rules' that are well known by pupils. These are 'be ready, be respectful, be safe'. There are a wide range of rewards that motivate pupils to stick to the rules. Pupils know that they can lose a 'playtime minute' if they do not. Pupils say that this is fair. In lessons, they work hard. At social times, pupils play happily together. There is lots for them to do. They build dens, play in the mud kitchen or spend time in the 'quiet area'. Relationships between adults and pupils are positive. Pupils know who they can turn to if they are upset or have any worries. This helps them to feel happy and safe.

What the school should improve

• Leaders have not identified the key knowledge that pupils should know and remember in some of the foundation subjects in sufficient detail. They have not given enough consideration to the small steps of learning that pupils need to make or the order in which they should be taught. Pupils do not learn in as much depth in these subjects and find it more difficult to make links with what they have learned previously. Leaders should ensure that all curriculum plans identify not only what pupils should learn, but clearly identify the precise order in which new learning should be taught.
• Assessment in some subjects is too general. It is not used well enough by teachers to check that pupils know and remember the intended learning. Leaders should ensure that assessment in the wider curriculum is developed further so that teachers can successfully plug gaps in pupils' learning or address misconceptions in order to ensure that pupils are ready for new learning.

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