Fairway Infant School, Copthorne

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The headteacher has developed a culture of trust and higher expectations that has led to improvements in teaching and pupils' outcomes.

Other school leaders have been empowered to lead their areas of responsibility effectively. They systematically check and make improvements to the quality of teaching. Teaching throughout the school has improved and is now consistently good.

Standards are rising in reading, writing and mathematics. Teachers use assessment information well to plan appropriate learning activities for their pupils. Early years provision is good.

Strong partnerships with parents enable children to make a good start t...o school life. Governors have introduced rigorous systems to check the quality of the school's performance. Behaviour is good.

Pupils have excellent manners and care for each other well. Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs are well supported and are making good progress over time. The curriculum is broad and balanced.

It interests and motivates the pupils and prepares them well for the next stage of their education. Safeguarding procedures are effective and keep pupils safe from harm. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Despite recent improvements, not enough pupils are achieving the highest standards in reading, writing and mathematics.

Pupils in the early years and Key Stage 1 do not have enough opportunities to practise and improve their writing skills. Some teaching of phonics (the sounds that letters make) is less engaging and as a result, pupils make slower progress in these sessions. There are limited opportunities for pupils to explain how they solved problems in mathematics.

Information about this school

The school is smaller than the average-sized primary school. The school provides full-time early years provision in two Reception classes. Since the previous inspection, two teachers have left and two teachers have joined the school.

The proportion of pupils eligible for the pupil premium is very low compared with the national average. This is additional government funding for disadvantaged pupils and those who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is below that found nationally.

The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage. Very few pupils speak English as an additional language. The school works closely with other schools in the locality as part of the East Grinstead Group of Schools.