Waterside Infant School rated ‘good’ in 2023 Ofsted report

A WATERSIDE infant school rated ‘good’ by Ofsted has been praised for the time and care it takes to support pupils.

Marchwood Infant School in Twiggs Lane teaches 216 pupils aged between four and seven.

Inspectors visited the school on 19th and 20th April and found pupils to be polite, kind and considerate.

A report said teachers and leaders knew pupils well, adding: “Families, especially those in the armed forces, appreciate the time and care that all staff take to support their children.”

Pupils feel safe and bullying is rare, it added.

Children work hard in lessons and take pride in their work, and are also active members of the village community, visiting the local church and taking part in a fun day in colloboration with the local military barrack.

The report added: “Leaders have developed a curriculum that is broad and ambitious for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

“Teachers check how well pupils are doing and use this information to plan and reshape teaching. On the whole, teachers present key ideas and concepts clearly.”

Inspectors praised staff as “skilled and adept” in identifying any pupils who are falling behind with their reading and providing targeted support to help them catch up quickly.

Pupils enjoy reading the books that are available in the playground at breaktimes, which encourages reading for relaxation and pleasure.

Pupils were said by Ofsted to behave well because leaders have put in place a very clear system that is applied consistently by all staff.

Governors have set a clear and inclusive vision for the school, inspectors found, which as a result means pupils benefit from activities to develop their character.

These range from weekly clubs to theatre productions of classic novels.

Pupils also learn about the democratic process through voting in a charity of the year and class representatives on the school council.

The report concluded that governors were diligent in their roles and had a strong understanding of the school, including being mindful of staff workload.

Head teacher Lucy Chambers told the A&T: “I am extremely proud of both the staff who work so tirelessly for our children and families, and of the children themselves, who were recognised for their kindness and consideration.

“As a Church of England school, our Christian values are of key importance to us and it is lovely to see these recognised in the report.

“We are also very pleased that Ofsted acknowledged all our recent work to develop the curriculum, noting phonics and early reading as particular strengths.

“We are excited to build upon these strengths as we continue our journey to ensure the best possible outcomes for all our children.”