South Milford Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school The consultant headteacher, a strong senior leadership team and new governors have driven significant improvements since the last inspection. As a result, pupils are making rapid progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

Attendance is excellent because pupils enjoy school. Pupils' good behaviour contributes well to their achievement and they are proud of their school. Teaching over time is consistently good and some is outstanding.

Leaders have carefully guided staff to improve their skills and have taken positive action to rectify any previous underperformance. In 2014, by the end of Key Stage 2 pupils' progress in mathematics and wr...iting was in the top 20% of schools nationally. Pupils' progress in reading was also good.

Pupils cooperate maturely together. They are polite and friendly towards adults and visitors. Conduct around the school is exemplary.

Pupils say they feel safe in school and most parents agree. Provision for children in the early years is outstanding. Excellent teaching, leadership and a passion for nurturing children as individuals underpin this notable achievement.

Consequently, children are well prepared for learning when they move into Year 1. An inspiring curriculum successfully develops the three aspects of community, resilience and enterprise. Pupils show respect for differences, such as diversity in culture, religion or ability because : their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is good.

Strategic planning to teach British values ensures that pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. The newly-constituted governing body is highly effective. Governors understand the school's strengths and hold the staff to account for improvements.

Supported by the local authority and an alliance of local schools, governors have managed the school most skilfully through a very a difficult period of staffing turbulence. It is not yet an outstanding school because : The rapid rates of progress made by some groups of pupils in school are not consistent for all groups. Pupils' handwriting, presentation and spelling are not always as good as they could be.

Pupils do not always respond to the guidance provided by teachers on how to improve their work.

Information about this school

This is a smaller than average-sized primary school. There are seven classes with one class for each year group of pupils from Reception Year to Year 6.

The large majority of pupils are of White British heritage. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is well below average. The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, those eligible for support through the pupil premium, is well below the national average.

The pupil premium is additional funding the school receives for those pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and those who are in the care of the local authority. Children attend full time in the Reception class. The school has been through many unavoidable changes in leadership and management since the previous inspection.

The leadership of the school is shared between two senior leaders supported by a consultant headteacher. A new headteacher has been appointed to begin her role in September 2015. Two new teachers have taken up post since the previous inspection.

The school meets the government's current floor standards which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in English and mathematics. The school has appointed a newly constituted governing body since the last inspection which has been supported by the local authority. It has recently joined an alliance of local schools in order to support staff and governors' development.

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