White Laith Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Main findings

This is a good school. It has improved since its previous inspection. The Early Years Foundation Stage continues to be outstanding and a model of exemplary practice.

The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils has improved and is now excellent. This is underpinned by pupils' superb behaviour that contributes to their outstanding attitudes to safety and healthy lifestyles. The outstanding provision for safeguarding, care, guidance and support helps pupils to develop the confidence and independence that enable them to become effective learners and mature members of their cohesive school community.

The majority of children start school with skills below age-related expectatio...ns. All groups of pupils make good progress and, by the end of Year 6, attainment is broadly average in English and mathematics. Recent data and observations indicate that attainment is rising.

Ambitious targets are being met. However, it is too early for this improvement to be regarded as secure, particularly because mathematics is not as strong as English. Pupils do not have sufficient opportunity to use and apply problem-solving and mathematical skills to subjects across the curriculum.

Writing is used more frequently in other subjects but opportunities for pupils to use these skills are not always fully exploited. The quality of teaching is good overall, with half of all teaching seen judged outstanding. The strength of the teaching reflects the school's emphasis on the need for similar approaches in classroom management and teaching styles across the school.

As a result, pupils are more aware of what is expected of them. The effective use of assessment ensures the learning needs of pupils are fully met. Skilful teaching of the links between sounds and letters has improved pupils' confidence and skills in reading and writing.

The imaginative curriculum enables pupils to make good progress and outstanding partnerships ensure that the expertise of others extends, enriches and supports learning. Pupils enjoy their learning and achieve well. School improvements reflect the quality of the strong leadership and management team; members strive at all times for excellence.

Their accurate evaluation of the school and high expectations have helped to create a succinct and ambitious school improvement plan that includes effective monitoring and evaluation. This makes use of a carefully planned system to track pupils' progress. This is working well and welcomed by parents, carers and pupils.

However, some changes are not fully embedded to show their impact in a sustained rise in attainment. The school has good capacity for sustained improvement.

Information about the school

White Laith is slightly smaller than the average primary school.

Currently, there are five classes in Key Stages 1 and 2; of these two are mixed-age classes including children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The school also provides some day care for a small number of children aged three to four years in the Nursery. The proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals is a little above the national average.

The majority of pupils are White British. A very small minority of pupils are from minority ethnic heritages. The proportion of pupils who speak English as an additional language is exceptionally low.

The proportion of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is above the national average. The number of pupils joining or leaving the school other than at the usual times (pupil mobility) is in line with the national average. The school has been awarded Healthy Schools status, Activemark, the Leeds Inclusion Chartermark and the Stephen Lawrence Standard.

Inspection grades: 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate Please turn to the glossary for a description of the grades and inspection terms