Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery

Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery is generally performing at the expected standard. Inspectors found a broad, well-sequenced curriculum, effective early years provision and a strongly inclusive culture. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are typically well supported, behaviour is very good, and pupils feel safe and valued. Leadership and governance are effective, with accurate self-evaluation and clear priorities, and safeguarding standards are met. Personal development and emotional wellbeing support are particular strengths. The main concerns are achievement and attendance. Historic attainment at the end of key stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics has been well below national averages, and phonics outcomes in Year 1 have also been low; disadvantaged pupils' outcomes and the disadvantage gap are a significant concern. Too many pupils are persistently absent, missing learning and wider opportunities. Inspectors also noted that teaching is not always precisely matched to pupils' starting points, which can slow progress. Leaders are taking appropriate action: current pupils' knowledge is generally secure, gaps are closing, and disadvantaged pupils' progress and attendance are improving. Next steps are to continue improving attendance with families and to build staff expertise so teaching consistently targets pupils' starting points.

Strengths

• Strong inclusive culture where all pupils are valued and included.
• Pupils with SEND are typically well supported and learn alongside their peers.
• Broad, well-sequenced curriculum with clear links to future jobs and enrichment visits.
• Effective oracy and vocabulary work across all year groups.
• Early years provision gives children a positive start, including in the nursery.
• Pupils behave very well, are respectful and considerate, and bullying is rare.
• Extensive emotional wellbeing support is a particular strength.
• Leaders and governors have an accurate view of strengths and priorities.
• Staff feel well supported and leaders protect them from excessive workload.
• Pupils value leadership opportunities and contribute positively to school life.
• Safeguarding standards are met.

Areas for Improvement

• Attainment at the end of key stage 2 in reading, writing and mathematics has been well below national averages over time.
• The proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in the Year 1 phonics check has been low.
• Disadvantaged pupils' attainment is well below national and the disadvantage gap is significant.
• Too many pupils miss significant amounts of school, with overall and persistent absence above national averages.
• Teaching is sometimes not well matched to pupils' starting points, limiting swift progress.
• Leaders need to continue improving staff expertise so teaching is more specifically targeted to pupils' starting points.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery attended 93.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 18.1% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.8% of pupils at Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.6% of pupils at Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery received £6,929 and spent £7,600 for each of its 336 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £249,000 (-£743 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Swindon · Swindon local authority: places and applications

What is Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery is Needs attention, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery last inspected by Ofsted?

Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery have?

Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery has 347 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery cover?

Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 35% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery?

Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery is at Southview Avenue, Old Walcot, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN3 1EA.