Little London Community Primary School

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

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Sam Done Interim Headteacher Little London Community Primary School Meanwood Street Leeds West Yorkshire LS7 1SR

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Primary School

This letter sets out the findings from the monitoring inspection of your school that took place on 16 October 2023, on behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills. The monitoring inspection was carried out under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and took place because the school has received two successive judgements of requires improvement at its previous graded (section 5) inspections.

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Primary School

The purpose of a monitoring inspection is not to grade the school’s overall effectiveness, but to identify and report on the school’s progress. It is to highlight to the school and parents any improvements that school leaders have made since the school’s previous graded inspection.

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Primary School

During the inspection, I discussed with you and other senior leaders, staff and governors the actions that have been taken to improve the school since the most recent graded inspection. We discussed the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. I also carried out other activities, including visiting lessons and speaking to subject leaders. I also met with a representative from the local authority. I have considered all this in coming to my judgement

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Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is

necessary for the school to become good. The school should take further action to:

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Leaders have made progress to improve the school, but more work is

 more clearly define the precise knowledge that pupils will learn in foundation curriculum subjects to help pupils build their subject specific knowledge over time  ensure that those responsible for governance strengthen their challenge and support offered to school leaders to more sharply evaluate the actions taken by the school.

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Main findings

Since the last inspection, there have been several changes to the governing body, including a recently appointed chair of governors. You were appointed to the role of interim headteacher in September 2023, and are supported by a new deputy headteacher. Since your appointment, you have swiftly and accurately evaluated the areas of the school that have improved since the last inspection. You have identified the areas where the pace of improvement needs to be accelerated.

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Main findings

You have prioritised the areas of the curriculum that you need to focus on to ensure that the quality of education continues to develop. You have overseen improvements in the clarity of curriculum design in foundation subjects around the important learning that is taught through a series of lessons. In some subjects, such as geography, the knowledge that pupils will learn is clearly defined. The school is aware of the need to ensure that for all subjects, the clarity of the knowledge you wish pupils to learn is addressed and documented swiftly. You recognise that this will support teachers in their teaching choices. The school has identified that improved clarity around subject-specific knowledge will contribute to raising standards for all pupils, including those pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Main findings

The school has strengthened the early years curriculum. You have intensified the school’s work on developing both indoor and outdoor provision to be more reflective of the ambition that the school has for children. The curriculum across the seven areas of learning has been more clearly defined. This work is helping staff in their interactions with children and the activities that they make available to children to support their learning. Subject leaders have received professional development to evaluate how their subjects build from the foundations of children’s earliest experiences in school. There is ongoing work to ensure that the early years curriculum is refined and enhanced to give children the best possible start in their education.

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Main findings

The governing body is continuing to develop in its role and its effectiveness. It has experienced a disrupted and complex journey of development. During this journey, it has focused on making decisions in the best interests of the pupils. Those responsible for governance have a clear understanding of their statutory duties. The school is aware of the need to continue to develop the governing body so that it can robustly challenge school leaders about the actions being taken to raise standards. The school is skilfully using external support to help in the school’s improvement journey. This support is being used in the areas of greatest need such as continuing to enhance the culture of safeguarding in the school through robust processes and systems and in promoting positive learning behaviours in classrooms. The school has raised the ambition it has for pupils. This is becoming more clearly defined and understood by leaders at all levels. You

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Main findings

are aware of the need to continue to develop senior and middle leaders to ensure that this ambition is being reflected in the quality of the curriculum and the way this is taught in classrooms.

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Main findings

There has been a committed and consistent approach by leaders at all levels to engage with parents and proactively include them in the journey of school improvement. The school has continued to rapidly develop since the previous inspection. The improvement work has accelerated more so this term.

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Main findings

I am copying this letter to the chair of the board of governors, the Department for Education’s regional director and the director of children’s services for Leeds. This letter will be published on the Ofsted reports website.

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