Manor Infant School - Ofsted Report November 2023

Letter sent to Parents/Carers on 19 January 2024:

Dear Parents and Carers

Please find enclosed a copy of the final Ofsted Report from our inspection on 21^st & 22^nd November 2023. 

The inspectors graded the school overall as ‘Requires Improvement’. To arrive at this judgement, inspectors observed lessons, spoke with senior and middle leaders, class teachers and pupils about all aspects of the school, including the learning that takes place.

Despite the outcome, the inspectors found positive strengths within the school and were satisfied that although there is much work to do, “there are some early signs, in some more well-established areas of the curriculum that the quality of education pupils are getting is improving”.

The inspectors recognised that the school “places considerable emphasis on pupil’s wellbeing” and that pupils learn about their emotions and are helped to recognise their feelings.  They also recognised that “pupils’ personal development is a strength of the school”.  They praised the school for enriching the curriculum by providing “opportunities to visit places of interest” and through “visits from the police, the nurse and members of the local church”.

The inspectors also praised the work the school has done to teach the children to ‘be the best that they can be’ by learning the school values and that, “adults exemplify the values, demonstrating high expectations”.  They found that pupils “behave well, respecting adults whom they trust to help them” and that they “often help each other, sharing pens and glue in lessons and holding doors open as they walk through the school”.

The inspectors found that “the school’s safeguarding arrangements are effective”.  

The inspectors acknowledged that school leaders are “aware that pupils are not getting the education they would want for them” and “have been working with the local authority to improve the situation”.  The inspectors have highlighted the key areas which require improvement. Due to us having already identified these as areas for development, we already have plans in place which were and are being implemented, so please be assured that we have been able to act quickly.  The Governing Body, along with the School’s Leadership Team will be drawing up a rapid action plan which will move us forward to becoming securely ‘Good’.

The actions will focus on:

• Ensuring curriculum planning is consistent so that pupils’ learning can build securely over time in all subjects;
• Ensuring pupils understand and remember what they have learnt in lessons by planning appropriate activities that will be used to teach the intended knowledge effectively;  
• Further developing staffs’ knowledge and expertise in teaching phonics so all pupils are given the expert help they need in reading.

This has been the first routine inspection since the Covid-19 Pandemic began.  The inspectors discussed the impact of the Pandemic, and the years since, with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  The inspection was rigorous and forensic and the feedback we received during the inspection reflected our assessment and highlighted that we are focusing on the right areas of improvement for Manor Infant School. 

We continue as a school with the ambition that “pupils will achieve well and become independent, lifelong learners”. 

The report will be published on the school website today and will be published on the OFSTED website on 26th January 2024.  If you have any questions in the meantime please send them to our dedicated email address, we will share updates and answers to questions as appropriate.  Email: ofsted@manor-inf.hants.sch.uk

Yours faithfully

E Dare - Headteacher

S Parsons - Chair of Governors 

Performance Data