Setting

Jeannette Turner Headteacher Lainesmead Primary School Southview Avenue Swindon SN3 1EA

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Education act 2005 to Lainesmead Primary School, Swindon.

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

Following my visit to your school on 11 December 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Requires improvement monitoring inspection visit under section 8 of the

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in October 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher, the Vice Chair of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority. The school action plan was evaluated and documentation about performance management was discussed. The headteacher and deputy headteacher took the HMI on a tour of the school, which included looking at teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Context

Since the inspection a part-time teacher is now full-time. One member of staff is ill and away from school on long term sick leave. Tribal 1-4 Portland Square Bristol BS2 8RR T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5373 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : jo-anne.harwood@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

The headteacher and her deputy are tackling weaknesses in teaching in a concerted way. Since the inspection, they have invested time in staff training, and this is paying dividends. The energy and hard work of senior leaders in raising teachers’ expectations of what pupils can achieve, particularly in writing, has been infectious. Staff are rising to the challenge of not accepting second best from pupils. To that end, the quality of pupils’ written work in all subjects is on the up.

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Main findings

The school has considered how phonics teaching in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 matches pupils’ abilities, and has made changes to the way the sounds letters make are taught. Everyone in school has worked on how they question pupils to extend what they know and can do. In the Reception classes adults involve themselves in children’s play by dressing up in character, which delights the children, and gives a real purpose to adults’ questions, such as how to fix Santa’s sleigh.

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Main findings

The performance targets for teachers have been refined, and the school action plan focuses convincingly on improving teaching and learning. Each improvement area has a more detailed plan with actions, responsibilities and time scales.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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Main findings

 Tweak the action plan to include a more precise focus on the evaluation of whether actions taken are being successful in improving the quality of teaching, including the way children learn in the Reception classes, increasing the rate of pupils’ progress and raising attainment.

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Main findings

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The school draws effectively on the support from the school improvement adviser, such as through training opportunities and engaging in helpful discussions about what is working well and what needs to be done. Visits arranged to other schools for training have been welcomed by staff and the local authority has also provided the school with extra money for staff training.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Swindon and as below. Yours sincerely

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

The letter should be copied to the following:

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

 Appropriate authority - Chair of the Governing Body/Interim Executive Board  Local authority  the academy chain where relevant  Diocese – for voluntary aided and voluntary controlled schools  The Education Funding Agency (EFA) if the school has a sixth form  The person or body responsible for appointing foundation governors if the school has a foundation  The lead inspector.

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