The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Senior leaders, including governors and the chief executive officer of the Connect Academy Trust, share an ambitious vision for the school. You understand the school’s strengths and areas where further improvements can be made. For example, during joint scrutiny of pupils’ workbooks, you demonstrated an accurate understanding of the quality of education throughout the school. The academy trust has provided high-quality training for teachers through strong collaboration, and this has led to a significant rise in the quality of collective leadership across the school. You are well supported by middle leaders, including the mathematics and English teams. Governors are effective and know the school well. They are fully involved in the life of the school and are committed to ensuring that pupils’ welfare is at the heart of all decision making. Governors have a deep understanding and knowledge of the progress of individual groups and challenge school leaders accordingly where there are variations in outcomes. Parents and carers are welcomed and encouraged to become involved in the life of the school. They are complimentary about the school and the education their children receive. Positive relationships with parents help to break down barriers to learning and raise expectations of pupils. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the online inspection questionnaire, Parent View, gathered as part of the inspection. One parent summarised this with the comment, ‘Academically and socially, my child has flourished at Manadon.’ The 2018 national curriculum assessments at key stage 2 show that most pupils made progress in reading, in writing and in mathematics at least in line with that of all pupils nationally by the time they left the school after Year 6. The progress of pupils in writing was particularly strong, being significantly above the national average. This prepared them well for the next stage of their education. However, you are aware that the small group of low prior attaining pupils made slightly less progress than the national average in reading. You have secured strong provision in the early years. This has led to more children achieving a good level of development in their early years foundation stage profile. This is now in line with the national figure. This demonstrates that current children have a secure platform upon which to develop further when they reach key stage 1. In 2018, achievement was strong in key stage 1, with attainment at the expected standard higher than the national average. Pupils also consistently achieve well and most reach the expected standard in the key stage 1 phonics screening check. Leaders recognise that the management of less able pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is not sufficiently developed. Effective pastoral support is put in place. However, checks on the impact of teaching and assessment on pupils’ writing are not effective. Writing activities are not matched closely enough to the pupils’ precise learning needs. As a result, some pupils with SEND do not make strong progress from their starting points. Safeguarding is effective. There is a strong culture of safeguarding and care across the school. A nominated governor ensures that all safeguarding procedures are robust. All staff follow the school’s rigorous recording and reporting systems. Leaders work well with other agencies and they take appropriate and timely action to keep vulnerable pupils safe. You and your governors ensure that staff complete all relevant training, including about the prevention of extremism, radicalisation, female genital mutilation and child sexual exploitation. Appropriate checks are made on all staff before they begin work at the school to ensure that they are fit and proper to work with children. Pupils report that they feel safe in the school and Ofsted’s online surveys show that parents and staff agree. Pupils say there is little bullying in the school. They are confident in the knowledge that staff deal promptly with any concerns they may have. Pupils demonstrate a good understanding of how to keep healthy and safe, including from online bullying.