Setting

Mrs Yvette Blake The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School Wood Lane Appleton Warrington Cheshire WA4 3DB

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Nursery School

Following my visit to your school on 9 October 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings. Thank you for the help that you and your staff gave during the inspection and for the information you made available before and during my visit.

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Nursery School

The inspection was a monitoring inspection carried out in accordance with no formal designation procedures and conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Evidence

This inspection was carried out with one day’s notice. I held discussions with you, the Chair of the Governing Body, the Chair of the Buildings and Community, Health and Safety Committee, and the deputy headteacher. I also held a telephone conversation with a representative of the local authority. In addition, I spoke to staff and pupils as I walked around the school. I conducted two tours of the school site and scrutinised a range of documents pertaining to recent actions taken in relation to safeguarding.

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Evidence

In June 2013, the school asked the local authority’s Risk and Resilience Team to conduct a detailed review of the school’s security arrangements. The resulting report included a number of suggestions for improvements to the school building and its surroundings and recommended that the condition of the site should be monitored regularly. CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566933 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email :ggleaden@cfbt.com The school has responded very quickly and effectively to that report. Almost all the recommendations have been implemented. A major investment has led to rapid improvements to the quality and security of the perimeter fencing. The school has also identified additional funding and established clear priorities for further improvements in the next financial year. Records show that, since June, the site

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Evidence

inspections have increased in frequency and have resulted in far more detailed records than in the past. A further improvement to health and safety in the Nursery building, suggested by the local authority’s representative in September 2013, has also been implemented. During my visit I shared with you some further areas for improvement which you and the governors have agreed to tackle as a priority.

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Evidence

Safeguarding and the welfare of the children are high priorities for the school. Relevant policies are updated regularly and ratified by the governing body. Required records and logs are up to date. I shared some minor inconsistencies in documentation which you accept and have already taken action to rectify.

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Evidence

An impressive aspect of your school is the focus that you and your staff place on enabling the children to take full advantage of the extensive and attractive school grounds. The opportunities for children to grow plants, to study insects, animals and birds and to enjoy the environment while, at the same time, keeping themselves safe ensure that learning outdoors continues to be a strength of the school.

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Priorities for further improvement

 The school should draw up an action plan that identifies precise timescales and finance for implementing the few remaining improvements identified in the report of the local authority’s Risk and Resilience Team.

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Priorities for further improvement

 The local authority should conduct further monitoring to ensure that the plan is implemented before the end of the current academic year.

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Priorities for further improvement

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Education, the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Warrington. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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