Sefton Park Infant School

Inspection of a school judged good for overall effectiveness before September 2024: Sefton Park Infant School Ashley Down Road, Ashley Down, Bristol BS7 9BJ

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Outcome

Sefton Park Infant School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Sefton Park Infant School is at the heart of the community where everyone is valued and respected. The school has created a sense of belonging. The relationship between staff and pupils is warm. Pupils are safe. They know that, if they are worried, a member of staff will help them.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Staff have high expectations for all pupils’ achievement, built on the school vision of being ‘confident, curious and creative’. Pupils meet these. They behave well and enjoy talking about what they have learned. Pupils are keen to learn and most achieve well. They value the class rewards they receive for making positive choices about their learning and behaviour. Children are kind and respectful. For example, they develop care and compassion through looking after the school goats.

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What is it like to attend this school?

The school offers extensive opportunities beyond the classroom. There is a wealth of sporting and creative clubs, such as street dance and yoga. Through these, pupils develop their talents and interests. Pupils build a sense of social responsibility through leadership roles. Their actions make a tangible difference. For example, school councillors contribute to the staff recruitment process. The school ensures that there is equality of participation so that everyone benefits.

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What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

The school has a broad and ambitious curriculum that helps pupils to build knowledge and skills from Nursery to Year 6. In many subjects, the way that the curriculum is taught helps pupils know and remember more. Consequently, pupils build well on their prior knowledge. For example, pupils compare what they have learned about the experiences of Victorian female nurses with those of medical professionals in the modern world. 1 and 2 April 2025

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However, at times, the way the curriculum is taught does not support pupils’ learning as well as it could. This is because, in a few subjects, the school has not ensured staff have the necessary expertise to deliver the curriculum as intended. As a result, not all pupils secure the learning they will need for the future.

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Pupils get off to a strong start in Nursery. Skilled staff develop children’s language. They deliberately weave important vocabulary into their conversations with children. Discussions are a key feature of every lesson in the early years. Carefully designed activities support children to develop their fine motor skills and early writing. Teaching is clear and precise and is enhanced by visual and verbal modelling. This helps pupils achieve well.

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The school places a sharp focus on reading. Pupils develop their reading skills from an early age. Precise checks on learning identify pupils not keeping pace with the well- designed reading curriculum. Staff ensure these pupils receive the support they need to become confident, fluent readers. The school fosters a love of reading through carefully selected texts that reflect the diverse cultures and experiences that make up modern Britain.

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The school considers and meets the varying needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) carefully. Staff provide scaffolds and resources that help pupils with SEND to build their knowledge. Where needed, the school works with outside agencies to help these pupils develop their independent learning skills. Pupils with SEND progress well and participate fully in school life.

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The personal development programme is a strength of the school. It is deliberately structured to ensure pupils benefit from a rich variety of wider experiences. Pupils visit places of interest to enhance their learning. For example, pupils explore the habitats of aquatic animals by boat to deepen their understanding of science.

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Pupils learn about the value of being both physically and mentally healthy. They understand what makes a good friend. From the early years onwards, children learn about how to work with others collaboratively, reinforcing the community feel of the school. They develop confidence through participation in sporting tournaments with other schools. Pupils have a mature understanding of the importance of fundamental British values. They are knowledgeable about the negative impact of discrimination on the life chances of others.

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Attendance is a high priority. The school analyses attendance to gain an understanding of the causes behind any absence. Most pupils attend well. On the rare occasion where low attendance occurs, the school works collaboratively with parents and carers and external agencies to improve this.

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Governors share leaders’ ambitious vision and ensure that statutory duties are fulfilled. They provide appropriate support and challenge to ensure the school continues to 1 and 2 April 2025

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maintain its effectiveness. Leaders at all levels are mindful of staff workload and understand the importance of effective professional development for staff.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 The school has not ensured that all staff have the expertise required to deliver the curriculum as intended. This means some pupils do not achieve the curriculum goals. The school should ensure that all staff have the depth of subject and pedagogical knowledge they need to deliver the intended curriculum effectively.

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Background

Until September 2024, on a graded (section 5) inspection we gave schools an overall effectiveness grade, in addition to the key and provision judgements. Overall effectiveness grades given before September 2024 will continue to be visible on school inspection reports and on Ofsted's website. From September 2024 graded inspections will not include an overall effectiveness grade. This school was, before September 2024, judged to be good for its overall effectiveness.

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Background

We have now inspected the school to determine whether it has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at that previous inspection. This is called an ungraded inspection, and it is carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. We do not give graded judgements on an ungraded inspection. However, if we find evidence that a school's work has improved significantly or that it may not be as strong as it was at the last inspection, then the next inspection will be a graded inspection. A graded inspection is carried out under section 5 of the Act. Usually this is within one to two years of the date of the ungraded inspection. If we have serious concerns about safeguarding, behaviour or the quality of education, we will deem the ungraded inspection a graded inspection immediately.

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Background

This is the first ungraded inspection since we judged the school to be good for overall effectiveness in February 2020.

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How can I feed back my views?

find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection. 1 and 2 April 2025

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The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, 'disadvantaged pupils' is used to mean pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND); pupils who meet the definition of children in need of help and protection ; pupils receiving statutory local authority support from a social worker; and pupils who otherwise meet the criteria used for deciding the school's pupil premium funding (this includes pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years, looked after children (children in local authority care) and/or children who left care through adoption or another formal route). 1 and 2 April 2025

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School details

Appropriate authority The governing body

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School details

Dates of previous inspection 11 and 12 February 2020, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The school is federated with Sefton Park Junior School.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The school has a nursery for three- and four-year-old children.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school's education provision.  This was the first routine inspection the school received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspector met with the headteacher, other leaders and members of the governing body. The inspector held a telephone conversation with the local authority school improvement officer. 1 and 2 April 2025

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 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The inspector considered the views of parents submitted via Ofsted Parent View, including the free-text comments, and reviewed the responses to Ofsted’s survey for school staff.

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Inspection team

Liz Geller, lead inspector His Majesty's Inspector 1 and 2 April 2025

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achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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