AN INFANT school has been told it "requires improvement" following an Ofsted inspection.

Gattons Infant School received an official inspection on September 29 after 14 years without a visit.

Ofsted inspector Louise Walker visited the Burgess Hill school, which used to be rated as outstanding.

Her report highlighted a number of areas, saying that "teachers’ expectations of pupils’ behaviour are not always high enough".

Ms Walker said: "Pupils are happy in this caring, welcoming school. They know and appreciate the school’s ‘rights respecting rainbow’.

"These values and a strong sense of ‘family’ lie at the heart of the community. Everyone is included and valued. Relationships are based on mutual respect. Pupils are cheerful and kind towards each other."

She said headteacher Sarah Gospel and the leadership team had shown they have high aspirations for pupils.

In some subjects, leaders have identified the important knowledge and skills pupils should learn and remember well.

However, in other subjects and in early years education this is not the case, Ms Walker said.

She also said that children have difficulty explaining and developing their ideas due to a lack of consistent teaching of necessary vocabulary across subjects.

And according to the report, leaders have not ensured that teachers have the necessary subject expertise in all subjects.

This has led to most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (Send), not achieving as well as they should.

Ms Walker acknowledged that reading is a high priority for the teaching staff, who she says are well trained and confident in teaching phonics, commending their teaching of reception pupils.

Send pupils' needs are identified appropriately and staff know these pupils’ pastoral and wider needs well, she reported.

However, she went on to say that while teachers plan work that is matched to the specific needs of these pupils, weaknesses in the curriculum mean they do not achieve as well as they could.

The report also stated that pupils show "genuine" care for one another, their behaviour is not consistently good - noting being too talkative as a reason that they find it difficult to maintain their

attention in lessons.

Leaders provide a range of opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests such as learning a musical instrument, says Ms Walker.

The themes of kindness, respect and responsibility are explored and celebrated throughout the year.

She also went on to commend staff morale, stating that they feel valued and find leaders supportive.

"Leaders, including governors, are careful to ensure that teachers’ workload is manageable," she added.

In terms of safeguarding, Ms Walker says that the school has effective measures in place and staff are effectively trained to deal with different issues.

Pupils trust that staff will always listen and help them if they have any worries.

Ms Walker visited the school with her colleagues Mark Cole and Becky Greenhalgh two months ago.

The inspectors have now published the formal report into the school.

The report then goes onto outline ways that the school can improve for the next inspection.

These include improvements to both geography and science curriculums, coherent staff knowledge across subjects and ensuring pupil's behaviours.

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