Meadlands Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school This is an improving school. Attainment by the end of Year 2 and Year 6 has risen since the previous inspection.

Most pupils make good progress in English and mathematics. Progress in the wider range of subjects is improving. The wide choice of clubs and activities, in which most pupils take part, helps provide a broad and balanced experience of learning.

Children in the early years make good progress. Teachers provide rich opportunities for children to explore objects and events around them. This builds the children's confidence and social skills, and their ability to speak, read and write effectively.

The quality of teaching is... good because pupils enjoy learning and most develop their ideas and skills well. They say that teachers provide clear explanations and feedback which helps them improve their work, and often give them harder work if they are ready for it. Pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities are provided with prompt and carefully organised support, which staff are well trained to deliver.

This develops their learning well. Behaviour around the school is exemplary. Pupils are very courteous to each other and to the adults who help them learn and develop.

They are most concerned for each other's well-being. Disruptive behaviour of any type is rare. Senior leaders have improved ambitions and expectations across the school.

Improved staff training and a clearer understanding of responsibilities have helped improve learning for all groups of pupils. Disadvantaged pupils now mostly achieve as well as other pupils nationally. Governors use their wide-ranging skills effectively to take on clearly defined responsibilities and hold leaders more accountable for how well the school is improving.

Leaders' evidence about how well pupils are learning is not focused sufficiently upon pupils' progress. Consequently, teaching is sometimes not matched closely enough to pupils' needs and abilities to help them make the best progress possible. Pupils, particularly the most able, are sometimes not given hard enough work to challenge and extend them.

As a result, not enough reach the highest standards.

Information about this school

The school meets requirements on the publication of specified information on its website. Meadlands Primary School is an average-sized primary school.

There is a higher proportion of girls than boys overall, particularly in Years 3 and 4. There are average proportions of pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds and those who speak English as an additional language. Almost 70% of pupils are of White British heritage and others come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

The proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities is higher than average. Those pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan is much higher than the national average. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives pupil premium funding is higher than average.

Since the previous inspection, there has been a change in the leadership of the governing body. The school runs a breakfast and after-school club for pupils at the school. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress by the end of Year 6.