Ladywood Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school is at the heart of its community.

It is warm and welcoming. Parents are positive about the school and value the help they get. The school invites parents and toddlers in to help them to be ready to settle in when they start in the early years.

Pupils organise the reading shed, where families can borrow and exchange books. The school connects pupils to the community. Pupils visit the local care home, for example.

The school promotes pupils' personal development. It provides a vast range of wider opportunities, such as pupil leadership roles. There is an active school council.

Pupils get to share their views and vote on aspects of school li...fe. Leaders make sure that governors hear pupils' ideas in their meetings. Pupils like that their opinions matter.

It makes them feel valued and confident. Pupils benefit from the 'Embark Awards' run by the trust to broaden their experiences.

Pupils feel safe.

Playtimes are happy and active. The 'mini leaders' run games and activities so pupils can enjoy playing together. Pupils say that if bullying happens, teachers deal with it.

The school is an inclusive school. It is ambitious for all its pupils. There are high expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Children make a good start to their education in the early years. There is a sharp focus on early reading and language development. Staff help children learn new words through a range of activities.

They support children to talk about the books they read when they play.

Children start learning letter sounds as soon as they join the school. Staff have the subject knowledge they need to help pupils progress through the school's reading scheme.

Staff recite and repeat letter sounds to make sure that pupils remember them. Staff help pupils who need more support to catch up. Pupils develop accurate and fluent early reading skills.

Ensuring that pupils develop a love of books is at the centre of the school's curriculum.

There is an ambitious curriculum for all, including for pupils with SEND. The school ensures that the curriculum is reviewed and refined so that pupils can achieve well.

Learning is adapted to meet the needs of pupils with SEND.

Pupils make a good start to their mathematics education in the early years. They continue to learn important concepts across all key stages.

Staff continue to improve their choice of learning activities that will enable pupils across the school to deepen their understanding in mathematics.

Staff have good subject knowledge. They model the steps in learning to guide pupils and check their understanding.

Pupils get feedback straight away. This helps them to improve, for example with their writing. Pupils take pride in the work they do in their books.

However, in some subjects, staff do not regularly revisit the key content and concepts that pupils have covered before. Where this is the case, pupils do not reliably remember the important knowledge that they need to retain.

Pupils behave well around school.

They understand the importance of respect. Occasionally, when pupils need to be reminded to listen in lessons, teachers do this with kindness so that pupils can concentrate and return to their learning.

Pupils enjoy going to Ladywood Primary.

The school values high attendance. It is working hard to make sure that all pupils attend school every day. As a result, attendance is improving.

The school is passionate about pupils flourishing. Pupils like the variety of clubs they can join, such as the choir. There are many visits for pupils to enjoy.

Pupils say that visits help their learning. The school supports pupils' mental health and well-being. Pupils know they can speak to adults about any concerns they have.

The school has set out what pupils must know about life in modern Britain. However, pupils do not always remember important information about British values or equality.

Leaders champion links with parents and the community.

The school values the views of parents and nurtures good engagement, for example with attendance. Leaders are ambitious. They ensure that there is high-quality education for all, particularly disadvantaged pupils.

They ensure that statutory duties are fulfilled.

Staff, including those in the early stages of their teaching career, value the training they receive, as well as the support they get to manage their workload.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

What does the school need to do to improve?

(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

• In some subjects, pupils do not remember the most important knowledge they have been taught before. This creates gaps in pupils' knowledge and prevents them from making connections between important ideas. The school must ensure that a strategy is in place so that pupils remember the most important knowledge over time.

• Pupils do not have an age-appropriate understanding of British values or equality. This means they are not as prepared as they need to be for the next stage of their lives and future learning. The school should ensure that pupils acquire the knowledge they need about British values and equality.