Thurnby Mead Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. As a result of good teaching, children make good progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage from starting points that are often well below those expected for their age.

Because teaching and learning are good, pupils' good progress continues and, at the end of Year 6, their attainment is similar to that of pupils in most schools. All groups of pupils, including those in the speech and language unit, make equally good progress. Teaching assistants provide good support for any pupils who need additional help.

Good school leadership has successfully improved the quality of teaching and raised pupils' achievement and attendance. Pupils have... positive attitudes to learning, and behaviour is good in lessons and around the school. Pupils feel safe and well cared for at school Governors are very supportive and provide good levels of challenge.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : The planning of topic work does not provide enough opportunities for pupils to apply their basic skills across a wide range of subjects and to develop their creative abilities. Subject leaders have yet to develop their skills of checking, evaluating and improving the work of the school through lesson observation and detailed analysis of information about pupils' progress.

Information about this school

Thurnby Lodge is an average-sized primary school.

The movement of pupils in and out of the school throughout the school year is well above that in most other schools. An above average proportion of the pupils, about a quarter, are known to be eligible for the pupil premium, which provides additional funding for children in local authority care and those known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds is well above average, as is the proportion of pupils with English as an additional language.

While the proportion of pupils supported through school action is below the average, about one-fifth of pupils are supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs. This is well above the national average. The school has specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs.

Eighteen pupils are taught in the speech and language unit which serves both Leicester City and Leicestershire. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress. The current headteacher took up her post five weeks before the start of the inspection.