Following a monitoring inspection visit to West Melton Primary School on May 18, 2021, it has been confirmed that the school requires improvement. This inspection was conducted under the Education Act 2005 due to the school receiving four consecutive judgments of requires improvement in previous inspections. The visit was the first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of this situation was taken into account during the evaluation.
The inspection revealed that the leadership team, including the newly appointed interim headteacher, has taken effective action to address the areas needing improvement. Significant staff changes have occurred since the last inspection, including the appointment of a new deputy headteacher and the recruitment of new teaching staff. The governing body has also seen new members, including a new chair. The school is in the process of becoming an academy, which has influenced its current trajectory.
Leaders have focused on developing the school’s curriculum, which was interrupted by the pandemic. They have rewritten the school’s improvement plan to address the identified areas for improvement. The plan is now aligned with the needs of the school, and leaders demonstrate a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses within the institution.
Improvements have been noted in the support for pupils with early reading and phonics. New books have been introduced, and every class now has a library, encouraging regular reading both at school and at home. The phonics leader has provided training for staff, and while most adults teach phonics effectively, some inconsistencies remain, which leaders are aware of and are addressing.
Subject leaders have reviewed and developed long-term curriculum plans, ensuring they align with the national curriculum. In subjects like history, leaders have identified key knowledge and skills for pupils to learn, resulting in improved retention of information. However, in mathematics, the previous scheme of work was found lacking, leading to the introduction of new curriculum plans. While these plans are well sequenced, consistent implementation by teachers is still a challenge, affecting pupil achievement.
The development of the curriculum in subjects such as science, computing, music, and modern foreign languages has been slower due to the pandemic. Leaders are working with external consultants to ensure that suitable curriculum plans are ready for implementation by September 2021.
The early years curriculum has seen improvements, with a focus on developing children's language skills, which supports early reading. Assessments are used effectively to identify children's starting points, ensuring appropriate support is provided. Most children are well-prepared for key stage one.
Pupil attendance has improved, with leaders monitoring attendance closely and challenging parents when necessary. Overall attendance is now in line with national averages, although persistent absence remains a concern.
Governors have shown support for the leadership team and have begun to hold leaders accountable for improvements. The quality of leadership has improved, with leaders rigorously monitoring progress against the improvement plan and effectively holding middle leaders accountable.
The local authority has provided extensive support, including training for teachers and opportunities for middle leaders to learn from other schools. However, staffing changes and the pandemic have hindered consistent improvement across all areas of middle leadership. The inspection concluded that while progress has been made, further work is needed to ensure sustained improvement across the school.