Setting

Monique Anderson Headteacher Lansdowne Primary Academy Lansdowne Road Tilbury RM18 7QB

p.1

Academy

Following my visit to your school on 5 November 2014, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report the inspection findings. 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.

p.1

Academy

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in June 2014. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. At its previous section 5 inspection the school was also judged to require improvement.

p.1

Academy

Senior leaders, governors and the Gateway Learning Community are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

p.1

Academy

 make sure all staff follow the school’s handwriting policy  check that all marking gives pupils clear and precise feedback on what is good about a piece of work and how it can be improved  give pupils sufficient time to respond to teachers’ advice about how to improve their work  improve teachers’ subject knowledge in mathematics. Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T : 0121 679 9163 Direct email : lewis.mackie1@serco.com

p.1

Evidence

During the inspection, meetings were held with you, other senior leaders, the Chief Executive of the Gateway Learning Community and the Governing Body to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. The school’s post Ofsted improvement plan was evaluated. A walk round the nursery and mathematics lessons in Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 was carried out with the Principal. Pupils’ mathematics and writing books in Years 2 and 4 were scrutinised.

p.2

Context

Since the section 5 inspection four teachers have left the school.

p.2

Main findings

Senior leaders, governors and the Chief Executive of the Gateway Learning Community have taken immediate action to make improvements since the last inspection. The post Ofsted action plan is focussed precisely on the key issues identified and senior leaders have made a good start on making sure what is written in the plan is happening in classrooms. For example senior leaders have worked with teachers to improve their lesson planning and have modelled good teaching methods by working alongside them in lessons. Although this training is starting to have an impact on improving the quality of teaching across the academy, senior leaders recognise there is more to do in improving teachers’ subject knowledge in mathematics. The new approach to handwriting and presentation is starting to make a difference to how pupils present their work but there remain inconsistencies in how handwriting is taught and how teachers model neat, joined writing when they

p.2

Main findings

write in pupils’ books and on the whiteboard in lessons. Marking has also improved, but inconsistencies remain. For example teachers do not always explain what is good about a piece of work or precisely how it can be improved. Pupils are still not given enough time in lessons to take teachers’ advice on board and make the required changes to improve their work.

p.2

Main findings

There has been a vast improvement in the leadership and management of special educational needs since the inspection. The special needs leader has completely revamped how pupils’ needs are identified and how they are supported. For example, she works with teachers on planning learning activities and has given every pupil a special target wallet containing useful learning resources and learning targets that they know and understand. Learning support assistants have received training in how to deliver interventions. As a result of these improvements, pupils’ progress has improved dramatically since the start of the term.

p.2

Main findings

Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection.

p.2

External support

The academy has drawn well on a range of external support for example from Havering and Hackney local authorities. There has been good support from within the Gateway Learning Community.

p.3

External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body, the Director of Children’s Services for Thurrock.

p.3