Ofsted conducted a short inspection of Lidget Green Primary School on 13 February 2019, following its previous judgment of good in February 2015. The inspection confirmed that the school continues to maintain a good quality of education. The leadership team has effectively strengthened leadership and improved teaching, fostering a positive culture where pupils feel happy and valued. Parents expressed high satisfaction with the school, highlighting their appreciation for the education their children receive.
The previous inspection recommended improvements in writing and ensuring that the most able pupils are adequately challenged. The school has made significant strides in teaching writing, with visible examples of pupils' work displayed throughout the school. Teachers employ engaging stimuli to motivate pupils to write extensively, which has positively impacted their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural understanding. Most-able pupils demonstrate good vocabulary, punctuation, and sentence structure as they progress through the years. Phonics instruction in the early years and Year 1 is effective, enabling most-able pupils to write full sentences by the end of Reception. In mathematics, these pupils apply their skills well to solve problems, although some challenges in reading comprehension were noted for key stage two pupils prior to January 2019. However, recent training has improved teachers' abilities to challenge these pupils effectively.
Governance has seen considerable improvement, with governors demonstrating a strong understanding of the school's strengths and areas for development. They receive high-quality information that allows them to support and challenge school leaders effectively. The local authority has provided valuable support in enhancing governors' skills through training.
Safeguarding measures are robust, with the leadership team ensuring that all arrangements are fit for purpose. Staff are well-trained and aware of safeguarding protocols. Although the school's safeguarding policy on the website did not initially reflect current guidelines, this was promptly corrected. The school has a proactive approach to safeguarding, particularly in monitoring pupil attendance, which is affected by parents taking extended holidays.
The inspection also focused on the early years, where attainment was found to be below average. However, improvements in phonics teaching and engaging activities have led to rising attainment. The provision for two-year-olds is particularly strong, preparing them well for nursery. While indoor learning is effective, outdoor learning requires enhancement to ensure it is equally challenging.
In key stage one, teachers generally possess good subject knowledge and challenge pupils effectively, though inconsistencies exist between classes. Improvements in phonics teaching are reflected in rising reading skills among pupils. The provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities has improved, with effective tracking and interventions in place. However, further refinement in assessment practices is needed to identify precise next steps for these pupils.
Next steps for the school include enhancing outdoor learning in the early years, ensuring sufficient challenge in key stage one, and improving assessment for pupils with special educational needs. The inspection findings indicate a strong foundation for continued progress, with effective leadership and a commitment to high-quality education. The school is well-positioned to address the identified areas for improvement and maintain its good standing in the educational landscape.
