Setting

Mr Peter Smalley Headteacher Southglade Primary School Beckhampton Road Bestwood Park Nottingham NG5 5NE

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No formal designation monitoring inspection of Southglade Primary School

Following my visit with Her Majesty’s Inspectors Mary Candlin and Roary Pownall, to your school on 21 May 2015, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings.

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No formal designation monitoring inspection of Southglade Primary School

This monitoring inspection was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for inspecting schools with no formal designation. The inspection was carried out because Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector was concerned about the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements.

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Evidence

Inspectors scrutinised the single central record and carefully considered the school’s records and documentation relating to safeguarding and child protection arrangements. We met with pupils, both formally and informally, with teachers, teaching assistants, midday supervisors, senior leaders and two governors. We considered matters relating to the behaviour and safety of pupils. This included scrutinising a range of policy and procedural documents, including those relating to the curriculum and rates of attendance.

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Evidence

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Evidence

The school's safeguarding arrangements meet requirements.

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Context

There are 473 pupils on roll at Southglade Primary School. The large majority of pupils are from White British backgrounds; a small minority come from minority ethnic groups. Few pupils speak English as an additional language. Over half of the pupils are entitled to free school meals and receive support through the pupil Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T: 0121 679 9156 Direct E: emma.norwood@serco.com premium funding. A high proportion of pupils are registered as having special educational needs but few pupils have a statement of special educational need. A higher than usual proportion of pupils joins or leaves the school at unusual times.

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Main findings

You, as headteacher, have rightly prioritised maintaining the safety of pupils. The role of governors in holding the school to account with regard to safeguarding arrangements and child protection processes has recently been strengthened. Nevertheless, you and the Chair of the Governing Body acknowledge that this crucial aspect of their work needs to be further developed and embedded in the routine activity of the governing body. This is to ensure that governors maintain a close-eye on ensuring compliance with safeguarding requirements and that the school’s policies and procedures are followed at all times.

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Main findings

Staff at Southglade have a good awareness of their safeguarding role and its importance. They are alert to issues that pupils may present and are well trained in how best to respond.

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Main findings

The pupils feel safe and well cared for. They trust their teachers and particularly their learning mentors. They are confident that these adults will help them. The school has very good systems in place to enable pupils to communicate any concerns that they may have to staff.

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Main findings

Pupils’ behaviour is typically good and the school’s systems for managing behaviour, especially when a child is particularly upset, are secure and followed by all staff.

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Main findings

A particular strength of the school is the extent to which pupils are taught to manage their own behaviour. Pupils talking to us demonstrated exceptional awareness of their behaviour and a genuine sensitivity towards others.

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Main findings

Pupils are also taught how to keep themselves safe in a range of situations. This is taught effectively during their personal, social and health education lessons and through a programme of visiting speakers.

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Main findings

Senior leaders have high expectations regarding pupils’ attendance. Procedures for following up pupils’ absence, including those who are persistently absent, have been highly effective. As a result, pupils’ attendance has improved and fewer pupils are absent for long periods.

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Main findings

Records about children’s behaviour and safety are kept appropriately and systems have recently been introduced to ensure that senior leaders have good oversight of the needs of pupils. Records about child protection issues, while being adequate, could be improved by the addition of information about action taken by the school and its impact. The school enjoys strong communication links with Nottingham City Council social care services and has worked appropriately with members of the team when required, to ensure that pupils are safe.

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Main findings

The school’s single central record meets requirements.

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External support

The local authority has supported the school by conducting a review of safeguarding and a follow up visit to check the implementation of recommendations.

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Priorities for further improvement

 Embed recently introduced systems that give the headteacher regular oversight of critical information about children’s well-being.

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Priorities for further improvement

 Ensure that records relating to children’s welfare include reference to the action taken by the school and an evaluation of the impact of that action.

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Priorities for further improvement

 Further strengthen the role of the governing body in making sure that the school fully complies with safeguarding duties under legislation and that the school’s policies and procedures are followed at all times.

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Priorities for further improvement

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

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

cc Chair of the Governing Body; Alison Michalska, Director of Adult’s & Children’s Services, Nottingham LA; Christopher Russell, East Midlands Regional Director, Ofsted; Mary Candlin HMI; Roary Pownall HMI.

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