Our School was last inspected by OFSED in March 2005. The following is the overall evaluation. Please contact us for a Summery Report.

Overall Evaluation

Brookside Infant school is a very good school with some exceptional features. It is successful in enabling many children to overcome some significant barriers to learning. From a low beginning, overall standards are similar to those found in most schools, although they are not as good in English. Standards have risen significantly especially in relation to similar schools in recent years as a result of the excellent leadership of the headteacher in partnership with the deputy headteacher. Governors are really effective in their support and challenge to senior staff to raise standards. Very good teaching is enabling children to achieve as well as they can, especially in Year 1. The school has a strong and successful commitment to the inclusion of all children whatever their background or ability. It has the full confidence of the parents and provides very good value for money.

The school's main strengths and weaknesses are:

excellent leadership and management by the headteacher have helped to establish a vibrant learning community. Innovation is encouraged and subject leaders take full responsibility for improving performance and rising standards. Strategic planning, self-evaluation and financial management are also high quality

• governance is excellent so that links with community and business are fully exploited to benefit the children
• excellent teaching in the infants exhilarates children to exceptional levels of performance
• from a low start, by year 2 children are reaching standards expected of them in mathematics, science, art and design. Standards in design and technology are very good and in information and communication technology they are good. In religious education standards are in line with the locally agreed syllabus. English standards are below those normally found
• high expectations of all staff result in excellent behaviour and relationships so that children can learn in a really calm and productive atmosphere
• excellent links with the community enhance the very good curriculum, which includes many high quality opportunities to learn outside the school day. As a result, children develop a wide range of social as well as educational skills across the curriculum

the partnership with parents is also high quality and is helping the school to raise standards as many parents now understand how to support their child with work at home and in school. However, despite the improvements in attendance there is still a small group of children whose attendance and punctuality remains lower than in most schools and hinders the achievements of the children concerned

Mrs J Puttick - Head Teacher