Tenterden Infant School, Tenterden

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils delight in attending this school. They enjoy spending time with one another and form positive friendships. One parent commented, 'every day my child eagerly skips into school to see her teachers and friends, filled with excitement.' Pupils relish playtime, where they play on the climbing equipment and engage in imaginative games with their friends. Pupils behave well. They are polite and courteous towards adults and caring towards their peers. Adults care deeply for pupils, helping pupils to learn, grow and flourish. They make sure that pupils are safe and happy. As one pupil said, 'I love that we take care of our friends here.'

The school is ambitious for pupils, and values pupils' talents and interests. Pupils achieve well across a broad range of subjects. This prepares them for a seamless transfer to key stage 2 in the federated junior school. They show interest in what they learn. Pupils develop the ability to make choices and form their own opinions. They produce work that adorns the corridors and fills class books. Pupils proudly perform to others in shows across the school year. This builds a pride in pupils for the work that they produce.

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

The school provides an ambitious and relevant curriculum. They have refined their curriculum in the past two years. Subject leaders provide meaningful links between the early years curriculum and learning in key stage 1. For example, the school identifies what children need to learn in order to succeed in science and history. This prepares children for the transition into Year 1 well. However, the progression of knowledge and skills is less refined in some subjects across key stage 1, such as art and design, and design and technology. As a result, teachers are not always clear about the key knowledge that pupils need to learn and retain. This means that some pupils can struggle to recall what they have learned.

Teachers are knowledgeable about what they teach. The trust supports subject leaders to develop their knowledge and skills in leading the curriculum. Subject leaders provide purposeful training that helps teachers to refine their practice. Leaders are mindful of the workload of teachers. This ensures that teachers have the time needed to embed new initiatives and focus their attention productively in class.

Leadership & management.

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