Setting

Mrs Lynn Elliott Headteacher Dinting Church of England VA Primary School Dinting Vale Glossop SK13 6NX

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on Friday 21 October, for the time you gave to our phone discussions and for the information which you provided before and during my visit. Please pass on my thanks to the staff, as well as the representatives of the governing body with whom I spoke, for their time and courtesy. I would also like to thank the pupils for making me feel so welcome.

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

Since the school’s last inspection, there have been some significant changes to staffing due to one member of staff moving away from the area and another taking up a promotion in another school. Two new members of staff therefore joined the school in September 2011, including one newly qualified teacher.

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

As a result of the inspection on 20 May 2010, the school was asked to address the most important areas for improvement which are set out in the annex to this letter.

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

Having considered all the evidence, I am of the opinion that at this time the school has made good progress in making improvements and good progress in demonstrating a better capacity for sustained improvement.

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

The small numbers of pupils in each cohort means that results of national tests can vary considerably from year to year. However, results for pupils at the end of Year 6 have generally been in line with national averages in both English and mathematics over the past three years. In 2011, they were above national averages. Evidence from lesson observations, including pupils’ work, confirms that there is an upward trend emerging. School tracking data shows that pupils are making at least satisfactory progress in lessons and over time, with many making good progress. This improved progress is the result of better provision, effective use of targets and the impact of strong, strategic leadership. Serco Inspections Cedar House 21 William Street Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1LH Ofsted T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Serco Direct T 0121 683 2888 Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage settle quickly into the routines of school

p.1

Church of England VA Primary School

life because they are well cared for and feel safe and secure. A strong emphasis on establishing routines and setting clear expectations of behaviour ensures good progress in their personal development. Planning is thorough and linked to regular review of assessments and children’s progression in learning. Improvements in planning outdoor activities are ensuring that children are provided with a rich range of experiences both indoors and outdoors. In addition, the newly constructed garden area has been designed to provide children with good opportunities to explore and investigate, and to develop their sensory experiences. The school has made good improvement since the previous inspection in allowing children to choose and initiate activities for themselves. Consequently, there is promotion of purposeful play, with an effective balance between independent activities and learning led by an adult.

p.2

Church of England VA Primary School

The school is developing an exciting curriculum that links subjects together, through a topic or theme, in order to make learning more fun and to provide breadth and balance. Topics with a strong history, geography or science aspect to them are carefully planned to promote progress in literacy, numeracy and the use of information and communication technology. The role of curriculum coordinators has been reviewed to reflect this change to curriculum planning. Appropriate adaptations are made for pupils with different abilities, including enrichment and extension activities for more-able pupils, as well as those identified as gifted and talented. Coordinators are carefully monitoring the new curriculum to check that pupils have the correct skills for progression and, as a result, pupils’ learning is being effectively supported.

p.2

Church of England VA Primary School

The headteacher’s drive and ambition to provide the best possible learning experiences and promote high expectations have been key factors in ensuring the good improvements made since the last inspection. Effective monitoring of teaching and learning has led to important improvements, which are accelerating the progress pupils make through the school and across subject areas. This good improvement since the last inspection demonstrates that the school has a good capacity for sustained further improvement.

p.2

Church of England VA Primary School

The active involvement of the governing body in many areas of the school’s life gives them a secure understanding and knowledge of the school’s performance. This has equipped them to provide support and challenge to the school in equal measure.

p.2

Church of England VA Primary School

The local authority has provided good and effective support to the school.

p.2

Church of England VA Primary School

I hope that you have found the inspection helpful in promoting improvement in your school. This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website.

p.2

place in May 2010

 Improve provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage by:  providing outdoor activities that match those taking place indoors so that children’s learning is promoted equally well in both areas  giving children more opportunities to select and initiate activities themselves, while ensuring that staff note their learning and move it on as it occurs.

p.3

place in May 2010

 Embed the relatively new curriculum consistently throughout the school by:  reviewing the role of subject leadership within topic work to ensure it matches the different demands of a topic-based curriculum  providing explicit guidance on how to assess progress in subjects taught within a topic  ensuring that, in every subject, more-able pupils are always given the more demanding work of which they are capable.

p.3