Ashbury Meadow Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher provides energetic and inspirational leadership for this outstanding school. Senior leaders set exceptionally high expectations for pupils and staff.

They are excellent role models for everyone who learns and works in the school. Leaders at all levels have been highly effective in improving the quality of teaching so that it is now outstanding. All groups of pupils including disabled pupils, those who have special educational needs and disadvantaged pupils, make outstanding progress from their starting points.

Teaching is outstanding. Teachers are determined to provide the best education they can for all pupils wh...o attend Ashbury Meadow. Leadership of early years is outstanding.

Children achieve extremely well because of the wide range of high-quality and enjoyable learning experiences provided. Pupils who join the school at other than the usual time, including those who are new to the country and speak little or no English, are helped to settle well. They quickly make new friends and make the same excellent progress as other pupils.

There is a strong sense of community in this harmonious and inclusive school. The school welcomes and celebrates the diversity of pupils. Pupils say they feel very safe and cared for well.

Relationships between staff and pupils are a real strength of the school. Pupils' behaviour and their safety are outstanding. Parents are very happy with the school's work.

They appreciate the nurturing environment which helps their children thrive. The school works effectively with outside agencies to provide pupils with the best possible support for their academic and emotional development. Teaching assistants are highly effective in their work with individuals and small groups.

Subject and middle leaders make a very strong contribution to improvements in pupils' achievement in their areas of responsibility. The governing body is highly effective in holding leaders to account for the school's performance. Work is under way to further develop pupils' reasoning and thinking skills in mathematics and leaders know there is still more to do.

Information about this school

The school is similar in size to most other primary schools. There is a much higher than average proportion of boys in most year groups. The number on roll has risen significantly since the last inspection.

The school is gradually moving towards two classes for each year group. A second Reception class opened in November 2013 and there are now two classes in Year 1 and one class in each of the other year groups. Nursery children join the school in the term of their third birthday and attend part time.

Children attend the Reception classes full time. The large majority of pupils are from minority ethnic groups. At 65%, the proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is more than three times the national average.

Some join the school soon after entering the country and many are at an early stage of learning English. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is similar to the national average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, those eligible for support through the pupil premium funding, is double that found in most other schools.

The pupil premium is additional funding provided for those who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of pupils who join or leave the school at other than the usual times is high when compared to the national average. The school has experienced changes to staffing since the last inspection, including the appointment of a new headteacher in September 2013.

A building programme is underway to significantly increase the size of the school building. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The governors provide breakfast and after-school clubs for pupils who attend the school.