Setting

Mrs Alison Cornell Headteacher Durrington First School Salvington Road Worthing BN13 2JD

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Education act 2005 to Durrington First School

Following my visit to your school on 10–12 December 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

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Education act 2005 to Durrington First School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in October 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005. A monitoring inspection of Durrington Middle School was carried out during the same period.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher and senior leaders, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Body, members of staff, and a representative of the local authority. The main action plan and those for English, mathematics were scrutinised. Senior leaders’ reports, from their observations of lessons, were reviewed, and notes of visits completed by advisers from the local authority.

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Context

Since the inspection, a member of staff has taken on responsibility for the leadership of the Early Years Foundation Stage. One teacher and three learning support teachers have been appointed. Tribal 1-4 Portland Square Bristol BS2 8RR T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 311 5373 Direct F 0117 315 0430 Direct email : jo-anne.harwood@ tribalgroup.com

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Main findings

Governors and leaders have introduced some appropriate changes to improve the quality of teaching and strengthen leadership. A new Early Years Foundation Stage leader has been appointed. Several teachers have taken on responsibilities to lead teams and are positive about the part they are to play in the school’s improvement. They have already met with teachers to agree the features that need to be included in teachers’ plans to improve teaching.

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Main findings

Some positive steps have been taken to improve provision in Reception. A good start has been made, with support from a consultant. The headteacher and deputy headteacher have observed a good number of lessons since the inspection but their written reports are too general to improve teaching to good. They are not sufficiently diagnostic about pupils’ learning and do not give teachers enough guidance on what they can work on to improve.

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Main findings

The school’s action plan covers the main elements that the school needs to improve but it is too long and has far too many actions. It is not specific enough about the weaknesses and barriers that are prevent teaching and achievement from becoming good. Timescales and arrangements for checking that actions have been successful are unclear. These shortcomings make it difficult for governors to ask the right questions of senior leaders, to assure themselves that the school is improving in the right way and at the right pace. The plan for the Early Years Foundation Stage is better. It provides a stronger basis for improvement though also lacks information on how and when the actions will be evaluated.

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Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:

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Main findings

 improve the action plan to focus more precisely on the specific aspects of teaching and achievement that need improving and include clear, measurable targets so that those evaluating its impact can judge the success of actions  make sure that senior leaders evaluate the quality of pupils’ learning, first and foremost, including the learning of different groups, when observing lessons.

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Main findings

Ofsted will continue to monitor the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

The school has received several visits from a number of advisers since the inspection, either from other schools, the local authority or external consultants. The advice for the Early Years Foundation Stage has been sharply focused and appropriate. The analysis of data, carried out in November by the local authority, has been helpful in identifying some year groups where pupils’ progress needs to accelerate. The support that senior leaders have received in relation to the main action plan and developing expertise in observing lessons has not been successful.

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External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for West Sussex.

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