Thorn Grove Primary School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school.

The headteacher provides outstanding leadership. She is a strong and effective leader with high expectations for each pupil to achieve their potential. She is well supported by all leaders, governors and staff.

As a result, the quality of the school's teaching and performance continue to improve. Leaders have an accurate view of pupils' progress throughout the school because of their effective checking and monitoring procedures. Additional and timely support is provided for any pupil identified as falling behind.

Governors are knowledgeable about the school, providing effective support and challenge to drive improvement. Pupils'... behaviour is outstanding. They are very keen to work hard and to learn.

They speak highly of the support they receive from the adults who work with them. Their conduct in lessons and around school is exemplary. The arrangements for keeping pupils safe are outstanding.

Pupils understand how to keep themselves safe. All pupils, including pupils with a range of complex learning needs and disabilities, learn harmoniously together. They respect and celebrate each other's differences.

Teaching is good and there are examples of outstanding classroom practice in all three key stages. Teaching assistants support teachers and pupils exceptionally well. From overall broadly average and varied starting points on entry to school, pupils make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics.

By the end of Year 6 attainment in reading, writing and mathematics has improved and is above average. Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs, disadvantaged pupils and those who speak English as an additional language make exceptional progress and achieve as well as their peers. Parents are very supportive.

Their views of the school and its leadership are very positive and they appreciate all that the school does for their children. Good teaching in the early years ensures that children make good progress and achieve well in the Nursery and Reception classes. By the end of Reception, they are well prepared to start Year 1.

It is not yet an outstanding school because : The most able pupils are not challenged consistently well in all classes. There are too few opportunities for pupils to write at length and in different subjects other than in English and so progress in writing is no better than expected.

Information about this school

The school is an average-sized primary school.

The proportion of disadvantaged pupils, those supported by the pupil premium, is below average. The pupil premium is additional government funding to provide support for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals and for those looked after by the local authority. The proportion of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs is above average.

The school has an additional specialist resource unit to support pupils who are deaf or who have hearing impairment from within the local authority and neighbouring local authorities. This primary resource base is funded and staffed by the local authority. Some of the pupils have additional and sometimes complex learning needs.

At the time of the inspection 17 pupils were on role and registered as pupils of Thorn Grove Primary School. Pupils receive specialist support from within the unit and are integrated with additional support into the mainstream classes. The proportion of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds or who speak English as an additional language is below average.

Pupils attend the Nursery on a part-time basis for two and a half days per week either Monday to Wednesday lunchtime or from Wednesday lunchtime to Friday afternoon. They attend the Reception class on a full-time basis. The school meets the government's current floor standards, which are the minimum expectations for pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6.

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