The school is larger than average and oversubscribed. The school has an onsite pre- school and an after school club known as 'Wagtails Play Safe Club'. These are privately run and inspected separately. The school is in an area where many families experience challenging circumstances, as evident in the high proportion of pupils who receive free school meals. Also, it is not unusual for families to receive help from family support workers and help for their children with behaviour or speech and language support before they start school. Children join the school in the Nursery and their Early Years Foundation Stage experience continues on through to the end of the Reception Year. On entry to the school, many children have already been identified as having learning difficulties; these often link to difficulties with their behaviour and slow development in their speech and language skills. The school educates pupils from a very wide range of cultural backgrounds. The headteacher joined the school in April 2008.