OFSTED
Our school was visited by Ofsted inspectors on the 13th and 14th of May 2025. The inspectors make judgements on the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and quality of education in EYFS.
The Inspectors spoke to leaders (Governors, Headteacher and Subject Leaders), the LA School Improvement Advisor, the Diocese Advisor, school staff, children and parents. As well as making visits to classrooms and observing the pupils on the playground and in the hall at lunchtime.
We are delighted that the report reflects the nurturing and caring atmosphere that defines our school community where ‘happy children, love learning’.
The inspection highlighted that our pupils know they are safe and flourish as confident individuals within our supportive environment. The inspectors recognised the significant improvements we have made since our last inspection, particularly noting how the ambition of our curriculum has been enhanced through focused staff development, which has had a positive impact across the school.
We are particularly proud that the report acknowledges how well we support our pupils’ talents and interests, ensuring that all children, including those with SEND, are included and valued as integral members of our school family. The inspectors observed that our pupils behave well and consistently demonstrate our school values in their daily interactions.
The report describes the relationships between pupils and staff as ‘delightful’, which truly captures the warm and respectful atmosphere we strive to maintain. Our PHSE provision has been recognised as effective, with pupils demonstrating a clear understanding of how to stay safe online and in their daily lives.
Our Early Years provision received particular praise, with inspectors noting that children have a positive start to their education, learn effectively, and are able to apply their skills confidently. The report confirms that our youngest pupils are well prepared for their transition to Year 1.
Reading continues to be a priority for us, and we are pleased that the inspection recognised how successfully we foster a genuine love for reading throughout the school. The inspectors also commended our understanding of pupils with SEND, noting that our provision is helping these pupils make better progress through the curriculum.
The report confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective, providing the secure foundation upon which all our work is built.
The following judgements have been made:
- Quality of education – requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes – good
- Personal development – good
- Leadership and management – requires improvement
- The quality of education in EYFS – good
The inspection has also identified areas for continued development, which we embrace as opportunities for further improvement. These include continuing our curriculum development in some subjects, specifically around the sequencing of learning and addressing pupils’ misconceptions. We will also continue to focus on ensuring that pupils with SEND receive precise support whilst developing their independence and not becoming over-reliant on adult assistance. Our leadership team, subject leaders, and governors will continue to evaluate the impact of the changes we implement.
We are fully committed to working on the areas of improvement identified in order to continue ensuring that Pocklington Infants is a place where we find ‘happy children, loving learning’.
SIAMS
As a Church School we are inspected as part of the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools. Our last inspection took place on 13th February 2020.
Key findings
- Pocklington is a welcoming, inclusive and nurturing school whose staff support pupils’ social and emotional needs well. The wellbeing of the whole school community is a priority.
- The headteacher’s commitment to do the best for all the pupils in the school is rooted in her Christian faith and a dedication to Church school development.
- Collective worship is inclusive and forms an important part of school life. Prayer is a central part of each school day and contributes to spiritual development. However, pupils are not yet fully involved in planning, leading and evaluating worship.
- Pupils speak positively about RE. They enjoy learning about Christianity and other world faiths and are beginning to ask big questions about life and faith.
Areas for development
- Embed the biblical narrative of the school’s Christian vision and its underpinning so that the whole school community can identify and articulate it as an integral focus of the school’s onward journey.
- Ensure a robust approach to the monitoring and evaluation of the school’s effectiveness as a Church school so as to drive systematic and sustained development.
- Increase opportunities for pupils to plan, lead and evaluate collective worship to further develop their ownership and engagement.