The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. You have a relentless drive, enthusiasm and determination to ensure that Merton Infants is a highly successful school at the heart of the local community. You are supported well by the deputy headteacher and other senior leaders. Through your strong guidance and support, the leadership team is very effective in reviewing teaching and learning, and swiftly takes action to improve outcomes for pupils. Outcomes are good. Nevertheless, some disadvantaged pupils do not yet attain the same standard as their peers, such as in the Year 1 phonics screening check. Achievement is particularly good in English and mathematics, but is not as high in other subjects across the curriculum. You work very effectively with your local group of schools to share best practice in assessing and moderating pupils’ work. The governing body is highly confident in, and supportive of, your leadership. Governors have a clear grasp of pertinent areas for further development, and they challenge and support the senior leadership team well. Parents are supportive of the school. One parent wrote, ‘The strong emphasis on the Merton values helps to provide children with a sense of cohesion from a wide variety of backgrounds.’ The governing body has continued to demonstrate strong leadership. It takes a very active role in holding school leaders to account for pupils’ progress. Governors visit regularly to carry out a wide range of tasks, including evaluating school systems and safeguarding, visiting classrooms, examining pupils’ work in their books and accompanying pupils on school visits. They have a clear grasp of pertinent areas for further development, and challenge and support the senior leadership team well. The governors are fully supportive of the school. The school is a very friendly and caring place, and pupils speak with great happiness about Merton Infants. They enjoy being part of the nurturing community, and they praise the staff for how well they are supported. Pupils learn in a calm and highly supportive environment. They behave very well and are very keen to learn and do their best. One pupil said that, ‘Our school is brilliant and we are all friends.’ The school motto, ‘Aiming High, Achieving Together’, is clearly apparent in the enthusiasm and keenness of pupils to succeed. During my conversation with one pupil, she said that, ‘We never give up.’ During breaktimes, pupils play together well, and adults ensure that they are safe. In one playground, a group of pupils played football in an enclosed area, clearly showing good manners, and were very wellbehaved, without the need for an adult to direct them. The school is well maintained and the displays in the classrooms enrich the learning opportunities. Leaders have successfully addressed the areas for improvement identified at the last inspection. Pupils now have more opportunities to respond to teachers’ questions and feedback, helping them to make strong progress. There are now more opportunities for pupils to use their mathematical skills to develop their reasoning and problemsolving skills in order to deepen their understanding. Leaders wisely ensure that staff share effective teaching, learning and assessment as part of their well-chosen professional development opportunities. The progress in the early years foundation stage has been developed well. Safeguarding is effective. The leadership team has ensured that all safeguarding arrangements are fit for purpose. The safety and welfare of all pupils have a high profile at Merton Infants. You successfully work with outside agencies to support pupils and their families well. Pupils feel safe in school, and parents agree with their view. Pupils know who to speak with if they ever feel unsafe. Pre-employment checks, to ensure the suitability of staff, are firmly in place. Governors visit reguarly to review and evaluate safeguarding policies and procedures carefully. Staff and governors receive regular safeguarding training. They know what to do if they have any concerns about a pupil’s well-being. Recruitment checks are fit for purpose to ensure the suitability of all those who work or volunteer at Merton Infants. Record-keeping is thorough and leaders are effective in following up areas of concern, ensuring that pupils’ needs are fully met. Pupils are aware of potential dangers when using the internet. They said that if they ever viewed anything on the internet at school that made them feel unsafe, they would tell an adult.