An overcrowded playground and lack of supervision during playtimes has resulted in too many accidents at a primary school, Ofsted has said. 

Thorpe Hall Primary School, in Hale End Road, Walthamstow, was recently visited after chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, raised concerns about pupils' safety and behaviour.  

A letter published on Ofsted's website on Wednesday (April 29) said pupil's behaviour has declined since it was rated as 'good' during its last inspection in November 2011. 

Following the visit on March 24, inspector Ann Debono, blamed the "boisterous" playground and lack of intervention or supervision among staff for increased pupil visits to the first aid room. 

She said: "The management of behaviour at break and lunchtimes is not good. 

"Accident records show too many children visit the first aid room to receive treatment for cuts and bruises or to talk quietly to an adult. 

"This is because the playground is too boisterous. 

"I observed rough play and name calling particularly by older children. 

"The ball court was overcrowded leading to pupils’ conflicts about space and goals.

"Most adult supervisors did not scan the playground and intervene appropriately to prevent an escalation of disagreements."

She praised pupil 'game makers' for taking charge of activities during breaks, saying they "proudly wore special hats and expertly engaged children in different games."

The school has recently undergone a £5million expansion to increase its pupil intake from 540 to 700 pupils. 

New features include a kitchen and dining area, extra classrooms, a library and a drama theatre. 

Although pupil absence has fallen considerably in the last three years, it remains above average and fixed term exclusions have increased for pupils with complex needs. 

Ms Debano, criticised the performance of school governors saying they do not visit the school to check its performance. 

She added: "Governors do not have a good understanding of behaviour, attendance and safety in the school. They do not visit the school to check its work. 

"The headteacher provides information about exclusions, attendance and racial incidents but governors do not hold leaders to account for addressing this evidence within an agreed timescale."

Since the inspection, headteacher Paulette Houghton said its behaviour policy has been revised, there has been an overhaul of the recording system for accidents and serious behaviour with new procedures implemented, timetables have been reviewed to ensure play areas are less congested and training for lunchtime staff is due to start on May 7. 

Ms Houghton, said: "Many changes to practice have taken place since the inspection over a month ago. 

"Be assured that children are safe and incidents of serious behaviour remain rare. 

"If the inspector felt there were serious concerns a full inspection would have taken place immediately, and if these concerns were very serious the school would have been placed in special measures.

"This did not happen, and the overall category of a ‘good school’ remains.  However, that is not to say that we do not take the recommendations by the inspector very seriously, and have over the past month addressed many issues that were raised.

"The community of Thorpe Hall has endured almost two years of restricted access and facilities during the school expansion. 

"We are delighted with our finished provision, which provides space and exciting play areas.

"These require further development, and, as the school grows in the next few years, we will need to constantly review how the space is used to best accommodate the growing numbers of pupils."