Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566863 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: jbennett@cfbt.com

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Miss Caroline Eaton Headteacher Moorfield Community Primary School Cutnook Lane Irlam Salford Greater Manchester M44 6GX

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Primary School, Salford

Following my visit to your school on 10 February 2014, 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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Primary School, Salford

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in December 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary School, Salford

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

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Primary School, Salford

make sure that the post-inspection action plan is fully understood and owned by all staff so that they are confident and focused in working towards improvement targets and objectives  ensure that senior and middle managers have identified responsibilities for monitoring and tracking the progress of the post-inspection action plan.  extend further external partnerships to inform on the best sector practice. In particular explore how to build a more aspirational and improvement focused school culture.

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Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the headteacher, members of the governing body and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement plan was evaluated. Documents summarising other actions taken since the section 5 inspection were also scrutinised. A learning walk of the school was undertaken with the headteacher.

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Context

The deputy headteacher has been on secondment to another school for two months and is to return after the February half-term.

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Main findings

The post-inspection action plan identifies the key issues raised in the inspection report and the actions to be taken to tackle underperformance. The headteacher acknowledges that both the deputy headteacher and school staff now need to embrace and acquire ownership of the improvement plan so that its targets and objectives impact in improving pupil progress and school provision. New tracking and monitoring systems have been introduced which more effectively highlight pupil progress and inform speedier interventions to aid and accelerate progress. Improved tracking better identifies the more able pupils and has led to enhanced planning for more challenging learning and higher order thinking activities for them. The headteacher and senior leaders now regularly scrutinise pupil exercise books to ensure focused and developmental marking is occurring. A system of ‘hot questions’ have been introduced to more effectively challenge the more able pupils. Work is also on-going to

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Main findings

sharpen the internal lesson observation processes so as to ensure that all teaching is at least good.

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Main findings

Governors have received additional training since the inspection. They are developing a stronger focus on challenging the headteacher on the quality of both pupil attainment and teaching and learning.

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Main findings

Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

An effective partnership has been established with a local primary school to enhance and improve pupil progress tracking and monitoring systems. The local authority offers good, well-focused and effective support. I have asked the school to explore ways of developing additional links with best practice primary schools as well as working with its feeder secondary school on transition activities to promote higher aspirations and ambitions for pupils.

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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 Salford.

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Her Majesty's Inspector

The letter should be copied to the following:

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