Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Plantation Primary School on 6 November 2018, following its previous judgment of good in October 2014. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team has effectively upheld the school's standards, with a shared vision that promotes empathy and opportunity among pupils. The curriculum fosters an understanding of equality, and the leadership team demonstrates a strong grasp of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. The development plan focuses on enhancing teaching quality to raise pupil attainment and progress.
The learning environment is described as calm and purposeful, with positive relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils enjoy their lessons and appreciate the rewards for good behavior. The school has a strong commitment to safeguarding, ensuring that pupils feel safe and well cared for. Parents express high satisfaction with the school, noting the approachability of teachers and the effective handling of issues.
While the school has made strides in improving teaching quality, there are still areas for growth, particularly for middle-attaining pupils and disadvantaged pupils in writing and mathematics. The school has implemented a review of pupil premium funding to better support these groups, but the focus on their progress needs to be more precise. Attendance strategies have been effective, yet the school has not fully met its ambitious attendance targets.
The inspection highlighted the need for continued improvement in writing, especially for middle-attaining pupils. The school has introduced a writing project to enhance teaching quality and has set consistent criteria for monitoring progress. While there have been improvements in writing quality, sentence structures remain an area needing further development.
The progress of pupils eligible for pupil premium funding has been a concern, with past data indicating weaker progress compared to their peers. The school has taken steps to address this through a pupil premium review, but monitoring the effectiveness of interventions requires more precision. The most able pupils are now making better progress, with increased expectations leading to higher standards in writing and mathematics.
Overall, the inspection found that the school is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all pupils can thrive. The leadership team is encouraged to sharpen its focus on the specific needs of middle-attaining and disadvantaged pupils, closely monitor the effectiveness of support provided, and continue to improve attendance rates. The school is on a positive trajectory, with a clear understanding of its strengths and areas for development, ensuring that it remains a supportive and effective learning environment for all its pupils.
