The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. You work effectively with senior and middle leaders to ensure that pupils enjoy a broad and balanced curriculum. Staff share your high expectations and are fully committed to providing pupils with learning that excites and engages them. The vast majority of parents and carers who responded to Parent view, Ofsted’s online questionnaire, were highly complimentary about the education provided by the school. One comment, reflecting the view of the majority, noted, ‘We are happy about Monksdown Primary School. All teachers are very supportive, kind and concerned about every pupil’s progress.’ The pupils who I met during the inspection were very proud of their school. They spoke with understanding about their school values of respect, resilience, resourcefulness and responsibility. They were also able to explain how these values help to promote equality and diversity. In the previous inspection, the inspectors reported that further work was required to ensure that the most able pupils in school are being suitably challenged. You have worked effectively with leaders to address this issue. A new assessment and tracking system has been introduced. This enables staff to monitor the progress of all pupils and offer appropriate support. The range of resources recently purchased support the most able in challenging their own learning. As a consequence, the school’s most-recent published information at the end of key stage 2 shows that the attainment of the most able pupils in reading, writing and mathematics has increased and is now broadly in line with that seen nationally. Inspectors also noted that teachers needed to increase pupils’ ability to spell correctly and ensure that they use more imaginative vocabulary in their writing. This has become a focus for your school and the necessary improvements have been made. Pupils’ spelling is much more accurate and the work produced in their books shows an increase in the use of imaginative vocabulary. The school’s most-recent published information at the end of both key stages 1 and 2 shows that performance in spelling is now broadly in line with that seen nationally. Finally, the inspectors highlighted that leadership and management required further development. This was to ensure that governors were more effective in challenging leaders about pupils’ progress. Again, you have addressed this issue. Governors receive detailed training from the school’s local authority improvement partner. This enables them to understand the progress information that you now provide for them. Minutes of governors’ meetings show that governors are effective in challenging leaders on areas of school improvement. The governors who I spoke to during the inspection were able to demonstrate a clear understanding of the school’s strengths and areas for development. We discussed areas where further work is required to support your school improvement. You work hard to ensure that attendance rates remain high. However, we agreed that further work is required to reduce the levels of persistent absence. You have introduced changes to ensure that reading and writing are developed throughout school. As a consequence, improvements have been made and progress is now good. Nevertheless, the number of pupils achieving at the expected and higher levels in reading and writing at key stage 1 needs to improve further to reflect that seen nationally. Finally, further improvements are required in the number of pupils at key stage 2 achieving the higher levels in reading and the expected and higher levels in writing. Safeguarding is effective. The school’s grounds are secure and well maintained. Visitors are briefed on the school’s safeguarding procedures when they enter the building. New members of staff receive detailed induction to ensure that they are fully aware of the school’s procedures for keeping pupils safe. Leaders work closely with external agencies to ensure that families receive the support they require in areas such as attendance, child protection and welfare. Pupils I spoke to during the inspection demonstrated a very clear understanding of the ways in which their teachers help to keep them safe. They also understand their responsibilities in relation to keeping themselves safe both online and in the real world. Staff undertake regular training on safeguarding and, as a result, are aware of the procedures should they suspect that a child is at risk from harm.