Welcome to Airedale Infant Academy, part of Castleford Trust 

As Headteacher, I am extremely proud to welcome you to Airedale Infant Academy. Our website is designed to give you a flavour of the vibrant, friendly life of our school and the high-quality early education we strive to deliver to children from nursery age to Year 2. Located in Airedale, we are a dedicated infant school caring for and teaching our youngest learners as they begin their educational journey. We are incredibly proud of our school community and deeply value the positive contribution we make to the local area as a proud part of the Castleford Trust. 

At Airedale Infants, we believe that a positive, child-centred ethos is essential. We strongly believe that every child, regardless of their background or ability, has the right to a safe, nurturing environment where they can discover the joy of learning. 

Our wonderful staff team truly lives and breathes our three core values: 

• Care 
• Aspire 
• Succeed 

We thread these values through absolutely everything our children do. For our infants, success starts with learning through play, discovering how to make friends, and learning to navigate the world socially. High expectations permeate our school, but we channel this through a love for discovery. We place much emphasis on learning to read, unlocking the magic of books to spark imagination and curiosity from the very beginning. 

Our absolute aim is to make the most of every child’s precious early school years with us. To enrich their experiences and broaden their horizons, we love providing exciting learning opportunities, hands-on activities, school trips, and welcoming special visitors into school. 

By working in close partnership with our pupils, their parents, carers, and the wider community, we help our children develop into happy, well-prepared, and confident little individuals who adopt an positive mind-set and are willing to have a go at all they are presented with. We believe in every single child, encouraging them to strive for greatness through self-belief, kindness, and determination. 

We look forward to working with you to enable your child to thrive, grow, and take their very first steps toward a bright future. 

Mrs K McKechnie  

Headteacher