Dear Parents/ Carers,
On the 9th/10th of October, our school received an Learning Visit from the Local Authority Education Team. The purpose of this visit is to support the school with the self-evaluation process and identify strengths and next steps. Please find below the findings from the visit.
Strengths
- The SLT lead a strong strategic vision for improvement and are clear on the schools next steps for progression moving forward.
- The staff show a clear commitment to delivering quality learning and teaching.
- Staff use self-evaluation processes very well to support continuous improvement and maximise outcomes for children.
- Self-evaluation and closing the feedback loop underpins effective processes and approaches to improvement.
- There is a strong consistent collaborative approach to improvement throughout the school and all staff actively led and are supported to develop their leadership roles.
- The school has strong strategic systems, with clear processes, which are embedded and regularly evaluated.
- Positive relationships between families, pupils and staff are evident throughout the school community.
- Children and staff are very proud of their school, and work well together and enact the school values in everyday life.
- The work of the Home Link Worker has been identified as an area of strength in supporting families, early intervention and ensuring families are aware of, and get what they need thus impacting positively on children.
- There are significant strengths in the health and wellbeing, equity and inclusion which are benefitting the school and the local community.
Overall Feedback
- There is a strong pupil voice within the school and local community, which is clearly valued.
- It is very clear that the SLT understand the context of their school families and wider community and are proactive in supporting a diverse range of needs.
- Staff and pupils are very welcoming, friendly, polite, and are proud of their school.
- From discussions with the whole staff team during the visit it is clear that there is a shared understanding within regarding the strengths and areas for continuous improvement.
- Environments in both classrooms and shared areas have calm, purposeful and welcoming atmosphere. In classes, almost all pupils are engaged in the learning experiences and are able to articulate the purpose of their learning.
- Polite and well-mannered children who add to the positive ethos of the school.
- Positive relationships between pupils and staff are evident in and out of class.
- The school community has created a safe and nurturing environment in which children learn.
- There is a range of displays in the schools highlighting the different work going on. Children can talk well about these.
- Routines are well practiced and transitions are well managed within classes.
- Classroom displays showcase current learning journeys and generally have pupil work displayed.
- The staff praised strong leadership and strategic direction as a strength within the school.
- The staff appreciated the organisation of the SLT and feel part of a whole school team.
- Teaching staff are creating a nurturing, welcoming and positive ethos within their classrooms.
- Effective planning, which continues to evolve to meet the needs of all pupils.
- The opportunities for leadership, at all levels, promote the sense of ownership amongst staff and pupils. Professional Review & Development processes are well thought out and link whole school improvements with personal, professional goals in a successful manner.
- ASN policy and procedure is well structured and organised. The Head Teacher (ASN Lead) has also developed sound methods for tracking and monitoring pupil developments and the impact of interventions.
- The children know their school values and the vision for the school. This appears to be embedded across the whole school community.
- Pupils show an eagerness to engage in their learning.
- Children are happy and feel safe within the school.
- Pupils enjoy the opportunity to participate in decisions made regarding school improvement. There is a definite sense of pride amongst the pupils and also a recognition of their part in the whole school community.
- Pupils are familiar with the improvement groups across the school and these are shared in classes and assemblies.
- Pupils have an understanding of themselves as learners.
- Almost all lessons and activities were engaging and appropriately pitched.
- Appropriate pace and challenge was evident in almost all classes.
- High aspirations are evident throughout the whole school.
- Parents acknowledged that the school is keen to work in partnership with parents and carers.
- Parents praised the SLT team for the interventions and supports they offer children and their families when required.
- Parents were very happy with the current leadership and direction of the school.
Required Actions
- The Head Teacher and SLT will continue to further develop their curriculum, self- evaluation processes, leadership roles and responsibilities across the school to maximise ongoing improvements as identified in the school improvement plan
