A valve assembly suitable for use as an inlet metering valve of a fuel injection system comprises an inlet opening, an outlet aperture, and a valve element arranged to control fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet aperture. The valve element is moveable in response to an applied control signal to a closed position and to a fully-open position, and is biased to return to a rest position when the control signal is absent. When the valve element is in the rest position, fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet aperture is permitted at a relatively low rate. When the valve element is in the closed position, fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet aperture is substantially prevented. When the valve element is in the fully-open position, fluid flow between the inlet opening and the outlet aperture is permitted at a relatively high rate.