Inspectors visited Christ Church CE Infant and Nursery School in March to carry out an ungraded inspection and found 'enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged Outstanding if we were to carry out a graded inspection now'. The school's next inspection will be graded.
Inspectors say leaders at the Tettenhall Wood school are 'highly ambitious' for what their pupils can achieve and all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), 'achieve well' and 'thrive academically and socially'.
Youngsters 'get off to a good start' in Nursery. Staff are 'highly attentive and know how to support all children effectively', ensuring those that need more help get it and seeking specialist advice from external agencies like speech and language where necessary. Teachers and teaching assistants use this advice well to plan additional support.
Children study a wide range of well planned and sequenced subjects, with leaders having 'created an environment in which pupils enjoy learning'. Very clear routines and structures help children to settle well into early years.
Leaders have 'successfully prioritised reading', creating reading areas in each classroom and purchasing more books for pupils to read at home. A highly effective reading programme is in place and children develop into 'confident, fluent readers'.
Leaders provide 'many high quality opportunities for pupils' moral, social and cultural development', and pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain.
Pupils at Christ Church 'feel happy and enjoy school', while staff feel valued and respected, and are 'proud to work at the school'. Inspectors identified a 'strong sense of pastoral care across the school, which reflects the school's Christian values'.
Behaviour at all times is good, with children meeting leaders' 'high expectations for behaviour', following the school rules and being supported to manage their own behaviour. The school 'is therefore a calm and orderly place in which to learn'. Parents and carers know that their child is safe in school.
Governors are 'highly committed to ensuring that the school continues to improve and that pupils achieve well', providing leaders with 'an appropriate balance of support and challenge' and making sure 'pupils have a well resourced environment in which to learn'.
Leadership of safeguarding is strong, with staff confident in the knowledge that leaders will take effective action. Leaders make sure that staff have regular training and pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe.
Executive Headteacher Sarah Blower said: "I am delighted that the report is a true reflection of our school and that the hard work of staff, the enjoyment and progress of pupils and the support of parents and governors have been recognised.”
Councillor Chris Burden, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Work, said: "This is an excellent report, and it is great to see that inspectors feel that Christ Church CE Infant and Nursery School could have been judged Outstanding if they had been carrying out a graded inspection this time around.
"I would like to congratulate Sarah, her staff, governors and children and parents for all their hard work which has been recognised by inspectors in this way."
Latest figures show 89% of schools in Wolverhampton are now rated either Good or Outstanding in Wolverhampton, above the regional and national average. In addition, 9 in 10 Wolverhampton pupils attend Good or Outstanding schools, the best in the West Midlands.
