Lakeside Nursery & Primary Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher's strong drive for school improvement is shared by all staff and has resulted in improvements since the previous inspection.

All groups of pupils achieve well because teaching is good and support is effective. Pupils are currently working at the national average..

Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs receive effective support from teaching assistants and make good progress from their different starting points. Children get off to a good start in the early years provision. Teaching of phonics (the sounds which letters make) is particularly strong and children show good levels of skill in reading and... writing.

Good teaching helps pupils to acquire new skills quickly and to develop a love of learning. Teachers plan exciting work that engages and motivates pupils well. The school provides effectively for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Pupils behave well both in lessons and on the playground; they feel safe. They have positive attitudes to learning and enjoy working together. The governing body is effective in supporting and challenging the school, working well with staff to improve teaching and achievement.

The very large majority of parents and carers are very happy with the quality of education and care provided for their children. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Pupils do not have enough opportunities to practise their writing in a wide range of subjects or to write extended pieces of work. While work is set at different levels for pupils of a range of abilities, this occasionally does not sufficiently stretch the most able pupils.

Pupils do not always respond to teachers' advice on how to improve their work.

Information about this school

This school is larger than the average-sized primary school. The early years provision consists of two full-time Reception classes and a Nursery class where children attend part time.

The large majority of pupils are White British. Around one in seven of the pupils is identified as disabled or with special educational needs. This is an average proportion.

About 15% of pupils at the school are eligible for pupil premium funding for disadvantaged pupils. This is below average. The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and children who are looked after by the local authority.

Since the previous inspection, there have been significant changes to the staff in leadership and teaching positions. More than 10 new teachers have been appointed to the school. The school meets the government's current floor standards which set the minimum expectation for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics.