Kirkby Avenue Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school Standards in this outstanding school have improved in all areas since the previous inspection. The headteacher is an outstanding leader who models exemplary practice for her team.

This creates a school environment where all staff feel empowered to do their very best. Leaders work relentlessly to ensure that the school community works as one unit and is high performing. Middle leaders share the vision for continuous improvement in their areas of responsibility.

Leaders at the school actively support other schools both locally and nationally and share their best practice. Outstanding teaching ensures that pupils learn very well. Tea...chers and teaching assistants work very closely together to support the learning of individual and vulnerable pupils.

This includes disadvantaged pupils and those who are disabled or who have special needs. The teaching of phonics (linking letters and sounds) is outstanding, and has been so for a number of years. As a result, reading attainment is high and above average.

There are many opportunities for pupils to develop through their spiritual, moral, social and cultural education. This helps to sustain a nurturing environment in which pupils can thrive and prepares them well for life in modern Britain. Pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is above average at the end of Key Stage 2.

The overwhelming majority of pupils make good and often outstanding progress throughout the school. Pupils are avid learners during the lessons. They are eager and confident to build on their progress.

The early years is led and managed exceptionally well. Children have an excellent start to their learning in the early years classes. The curriculum is rich and varied.

It engages pupils very effectively in their learning. There is a wide range of interesting opportunities for pupils. Extensive work has been done to develop a manageable and useful assessment system taking into account the new National Curriculum.

However, it is yet to be fully established. Pupils' behaviour is outstanding. They have extremely positive attitudes and rise to the expectation that they will make every effort to succeed.

Pupils' are kept safe in school and they say they are well looked after. They say that bullying is rare. Parents are extremely supportive and strongly appreciative of the school.

Governors have high ambitions for the school. They regularly provide challenge to leaders. As a result, the quality of teaching and pupils' learning has improved.

Information about this school

This is an average-sized primary school. The vast majority of pupils are White British; the proportion from ethnic minorities is below average. The proportion of pupils who are disadvantaged and supported by the pupil premium is above average.

The pupil premium is additional funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after by the local authority. The proportion of pupils who are disabled or who have special educational needs is above the national average. Early years provision is part time in the Nursery and children attend the Reception class full time.

The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for attainment and progress in English and mathematics by the end of Year 6. The headteacher is a local leader of education (LLE). She is also a national system leader for pupil premium.