Scartho Infants' School and Nursery

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Mr Glyn Rushton Headteacher Scartho Infants’ School and Nursery Edge Avenue Grimsby North East Lincolnshire DN33 2DH

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Nursery

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection of your school that took place on 17 May 2023, on behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and took place because the school has received two successive judgements of requires improvement at its previous graded (section 5) inspections.

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Nursery

During the inspection, I discussed with you and your deputy headteacher, members of the governing body, including the chair and vice-chair, and a representative of the local authority the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also visited lessons across school, where pupils were being taught phonics and saw children learning in the school’s nursery. I reviewed curriculum documentation for reading, science and history and looked at evidence of pupils’ work. I met with a range of staff working in school, including those with subject responsibility for English, humanities and science. I checked the school’s single central record and scrutinised responses to Ofsted’s parental survey, Ofsted Parent View. I have considered all of this in coming to my judgement.

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Nursery

Scartho Infants’ School and Nursery continues to require improvement.

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Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is

necessary for the school to become good.

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Main findings

At the time of the previous inspection, which resulted in a second requires improvement judgement for the school, you had been in post for nine weeks. You were appointed as headteacher in January 2022. Another colleague in school was appointed as deputy headteacher at this time. Most teachers in the school are new to Scartho Infants. Similarly, a significant number of new governors have taken up post since the previous inspection or were new to role at the time of the inspection.

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Main findings

You, and leaders at all levels in school, have rightly focused attention on the things that will make a positive difference to pupils’ education. You have ensured that the actions taken will improve things ‘in the long term’, rather than looking for ‘quick fixes’ that are ephemeral. You, and your deputy, have empowered staff, ensuring that they are all fully on board with the improvements being made.

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Main findings

At the time of the last inspection, it was noted that you, as new leaders, were working hard to improve the quality of education at the school and that this was to positive effect. In mathematics, pupils benefited from a well-structured curriculum. In reading, improvements were less securely embedded. Leaders have been determined to improve the teaching of phonics, reading and writing. This has been successful. The subject leader for reading has been instrumental in delivering subject-specific training. As such, teachers deliver lessons with precision, using high-level, subject-specific language well, which benefits pupils. Pupils continue to practise reading with books that are well matched to their needs and those who are identified as falling behind access same-day support to help them catch up. Older pupils are now able to develop strong comprehension skills through leaders’ newly implemented, bespoke approach.

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Main findings

Subject leaders are keen to develop meaningful links across the curriculum. When pupils in Year 1 study a history unit on ‘The Story of Flight’, they also read about Wilbur and Orville Wright in English. This allows for the history and English curriculums to support each other, while not losing the integrity of either subject. Pupils find such links exciting. During the inspection, I met with your science and history and geography leaders, where we looked at plans and examples of pupils’ work. These subject leaders have had a highly productive academic year. You have empowered them to develop a curriculum which enthuses and inspires all from children in Nursery to older pupils in Year 2.

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Main findings

You have plans to develop meaningful opportunities for subject leaders and teachers to check how well pupils are learning across the curriculum. You are mindful that this should be purposeful and not be to the detriment of teacher workload and well-being. Similarly, you are determined to ensure that your successful curricular developments are mirrored in all subjects. This is essential to provide the children of Scartho Infants with a broad and balanced curriculum.

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Main findings

At the time of the previous inspection, some governors were very new to their roles. Since then, further new members have joined. All governors are appropriately skilled and informed to carry out their duties effectively. The governing body has secure knowledge of the strengths and areas of ongoing development in the school. The range of expertise of members enables them to offer appropriate challenge and support to you and other leaders.

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Main findings

You value the support of the external school improvement partners which are commissioned by the governing body. You are actively engaged in a local headteacher peer-support review group and you welcome the opportunity for challenge and support.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the Department for Education’s regional director and the director of children’s services for North East Lincolnshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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