Meeching Valley is smaller than the average-sized primary school. Most pupils come from White British backgrounds. Few pupils are from a minority ethnic background, speak English as an additional language or are at the early stages of learning to speak English. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs supported through school action, school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is higher than the national average. The proportion of pupils for whom the school receives the pupil premium, which is additional government funding for pupils known to be eligible for free school meals, those in care and those from other groups, is much higher than the national average. There are no pupils from service families. The school meets the government’s floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for pupils’ progress and attainment in English and mathematics. The school was deemed to require special measures at its previous section 5 inspection in March 2012. Since that time an Additional inspector has carried out five monitoring inspections. During this time there have been significant changes in the leadership and management of the school and staffing structure since the last inspection. An executive headteacher was appointed by the local authority for just over 18 months to strengthen leadership and support improvement. The Chair of the Governing Body resigned, the vice chair was appointed as Chair, and the committees were restructured. Several teachers, governors and teaching assistants have left and new appointments have been made. The school was asked by the local authority to take additional children in the Early Years Foundation Stage; this means that the school has run two classes on entry to the school from September 2013. The school runs its own breakfast club. The school does not make use of any alternative provision.