Orchard Lea Infant School

Strengths

• Early years provision gives children a flying start through a well-designed curriculum and strong parent partnerships.
• Pupils are happy, feel safe and behave well in a calm, inclusive environment.
• Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school and act decisively to drive improvement.
• Attendance is broadly in line with national averages and persistent absence has reduced notably.
• Pupils generally achieve well and are well prepared for the next stage of education.
• Disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND are well supported and make suitable progress.
• Governance is effective, providing appropriate challenge and support.
• Staff benefit from high-quality professional development and leaders consider wellbeing and workload.
• Personal development is coherent and enriched by trips, visitors, clubs and leadership roles.
• Relationships with parents and carers are warm and trusting, and parents speak highly of the school.
• Safeguarding standards are met and there is an open culture of safeguarding.
• Pupils develop resilience, independence and positive attitudes to learning.

Areas for Improvement

• The school’s most recent phonics screening outcomes were below the national average.
• Some inconsistency remains in teaching modelling and transcription skills.
• Some staff are unclear how to implement the school’s step-by-step approach for pupils with SEND.
• Pupils’ personal development knowledge over time is not as deep as leaders intend.
• Leaders need to ensure all staff embed recent curriculum and teaching changes so pupils’ knowledge builds well over time.
• Achievement is expected rather than strong, and outcomes in national tests are not yet above average.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools