Walmley Infant School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. Children enter the nursery with levels of skills that are typical for their age.

They make good progress and leave Year 2 well above average in reading, writing and mathematics. Teaching is mostly good with some outstanding. Teachers use good questioning skills to extend pupils' understanding and judge the extent of their learning.

Reading is given a high priority in the school, including for homework. Parents support this very well and partnerships with parents are strong. Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs achieve very well.

The school is a happy place to be. The relationship between teachers and pupi...ls is warm and positive. Pupils enjoy coming to school.

Pupils behave well in lessons, around the building and in the playground. They behave equally well in the 'Earlybirds' before- and after-school club. Leaders have effectively organised the subjects into topic themes.

Pupils also have plenty of extra activities to enjoy which is a strength of the school. Leaders, managers and governors improved the progress of pupils in Year 2 last year. They provided extra teaching groups to meet their needs.

The senior management team has improved teaching by making sure the learning targets for pupils to work towards are consistently set across the school in reading, writing and mathematics. Leaders at all levels have made good improvements since the last inspection. It is not yet an outstanding school because : More-able pupils are not always stretched to capacity in every lesson, particularly during lesson introductions.

Opportunities for pupils to learn without the teacher's direct input are not planned as part of lessons consistently enough, for pupils to be able to develop their independent learning skills.

Information about this school

The school is larger than the average-sized infant school. Most pupils are White British.

The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for the pupil premium is well below average. In this school it mainly applies to pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action is below average.

The proportion supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is well below average. There are three classes in each year group. The school is usually over-subscribed.

The headteacher leaves the school at the end of the autumn term. The school is currently recruiting a new headteacher for the beginning of the summer term. There is a before- and after-school club called 'Earlybirds' which is run by the governing body and provides care for pupils outside of the school day.

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