The Grove Primary School

Inspection of The Grove Primary School Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE13 0HN

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Inspection dates: 10 and 11 January 2023

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years provision Good Previous inspection grade Requires Improvement 10 and 11 January 2023

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What is it like to attend this school?

Members of the school community are justifiably proud of their belief, which states: ‘everyone’s welcome’. Pupils say that they feel happy and safe at school because the teachers are kind and help them learn.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Parents and staff speak very warmly about the many improvements that have taken place at the school. Parents say that the school is now a ‘great choice’ for their children’s education.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils’ behaviour is good. They respond well to teachers’ high expectations, both in lessons and around school. Classrooms are calm and purposeful. Positive relationships enable pupils to focus on their learning. Pupils who sometimes struggle to regulate their behaviour receive well-planned support.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils understand that bullying is wrong. They appreciate having class ‘worry boxes’, in which they can post notes if they feel too shy to talk about a concern. Pupils are confident that teachers deal with any issues quickly and fairly.

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What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils enjoy taking on roles of responsibility, such as play leaders and ‘school ambassadors’. These opportunities help pupils to develop a sense of pride and empathy. All pupils are encouraged to take part in the wide range of extra-curricular clubs that are offered, free of charge. Pupils say that they learn ‘a lot’ about how to eat healthily and keep fit and active.

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better?

Since the last inspection, leaders have rewritten the curriculum. They have rightly focused on setting out precisely what pupils should know and be able to do in all subjects. Leaders and staff have carefully considered what pupils should learn, and in what order, so that pupils will know and remember more as they progress through the school. The revised curriculum is now in place across all subjects, from the early years to Year 6. In planning the curriculum, leaders have taken account of the needs of their pupils. Leaders and staff share a strong ambition for all pupils: to be well prepared for the next steps in their education beyond the school.

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better?

Pupils in most year groups successfully apply what they already know when faced with new concepts. For example, pupils in Years 5 and 6 spoke confidently about their learning in mathematics and history. They are keen and capable learners. However, this is not yet consistent across all year groups. Occasionally, teachers do not check how well pupils understand what they are learning. This hinders pupils’ ability to remember long term what they have been taught.

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better?

Leaders have recently revised the reading curriculum to ensure that it is ambitious for all pupils to achieve highly. Leaders and staff encourage pupils of all ages to 10 and 11 January 2023

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develop a love of reading. Leaders have introduced a new approach to early reading and phonics. They have purchased new reading books and have ensured that all staff have received up-to-date training. Children begin learning to read as soon as they join the Reception class. Pupils read from books that match the sounds they know. These actions are having a positive impact on pupils’ development as fluent, confident readers.

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Leaders quickly identify and assess the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They make sure to involve parents and carers in discussions and review meetings. Pupils with SEND are fully involved in the life of the school. However, the targets set for pupils to achieve, in the individual support plans, are too broad and hard to measure. This makes it hard for staff to provide support that is precisely matched to pupils’ needs.

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Children in the Reception class get off to a strong start. They settle quickly to routines. There is a well-planned curriculum that enables children to develop knowledge and skills across all areas of learning. Children clearly enjoy the activities provided. For example, they chatted happily while making play dough animals. They cooperated sensibly when matching animal words and pictures displayed around the well-equipped outdoor area.

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Leaders promote pupils’ personal development well, through the curriculum and beyond. There is a school-wide focus on key values, such as kindness, resilience and ambition. Pupils learn about healthy relationships and a range of faiths and cultures. This curriculum is enriched by visits to places of worship in nearby Leicester. The school values any of its pupils who are refugees or who speak English as an additional language. There is a strong culture of respect, and ‘everyone’s welcome’ at the school.

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Leaders and trustees are mindful of staff well-being, and their workload. Staff praise the care shown to them by leaders. They say that they feel valued as part of a strong, supportive team.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have established a strong culture of safeguarding. Well-trained staff know that they must take all concerns seriously and record them promptly. Records show that leaders act appropriately to ensure that pupils are safe.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and staff know their pupils and families very well. They provide care and strong pastoral support, where needed. There are effective local partnerships between the school and a range of external agencies. 10 and 11 January 2023

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Pupils say that they feel safe. They are taught about healthy relationships, respectful boundaries, and how to stay safe. Pupils understand the importance of online safety, through the curriculum and assemblies.

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

 There are some inconsistencies in how well the curriculum is implemented across the school. In some year groups, teachers do not always check pupils’ misunderstandings quickly enough or deliver the planned curriculum as effectively as in the majority of the school. As a result, pupils’ recall of prior learning and their ability to apply what they know to new concepts are not consistently strong. They are at risk of falling behind. Leaders should ensure that curriculum implementation is consistently strong across the school so that pupils know and remember more in all subjects.  The individual ‘student support plans’ for pupils with SEND are too general. The targets that are set for pupils with SEND are not measurable, with no clear success criteria, and do not always reflect the key areas of need for a pupil. Support plans do not currently provide precise guidance for staff who work with pupils with SEND. Leaders should ensure that pupils with SEND receive well-

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(Information for the school and appropriate authority)

planned, high-quality support to access the full curriculum and achieve the best possible outcomes.

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How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

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How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school.

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Further information

You can search for published performance information about the school.

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Further information

In the report, ‘disadvantaged pupils’ refers to those pupils who attract government pupil premium funding: pupils claiming free school meals at any point in the last six years and pupils in care or who left care through adoption or another formal route. 10 and 11 January 2023

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School details

Inspection number 10254857 Type of school Primary

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School details

Date of previous inspection 14 and 15 May 2019, under section 5 of the Education Act 2005

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Information about this school

 The headteacher was appointed in September 2019.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

The inspectors carried out this graded inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Information about this inspection

 Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, the assistant headteacher and a range of curriculum leaders.  The lead inspector met with the chair, the chief executive officer and other trustees from the Mowbray Education Trust.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in these subjects: reading, mathematics and history. For each deep dive, inspectors met with subject leaders to discuss the 10 and 11 January 2023

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curriculum, visited a sample of lessons, spoke to teachers, spoke to some pupils about their learning and looked at samples of pupils’ work. The lead inspector observed some pupils read to a familiar adult.  Inspectors also discussed the curriculum, reviewed curriculum planning and samples of pupils’ work in some other subjects.  Inspectors observed pupils’ behaviour in lessons and at other times around school.  Inspectors evaluated the effectiveness of safeguarding by reviewing the school’s record of pre-employment checks and holding discussions with leaders, staff and pupils.

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Inspection team

Christine Watkins, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Stuart Edmonds Ofsted Inspector 10 and 11 January 2023

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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