Sunnyfields Primary School

Sunnyfields Primary School Inspection report

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101311 Unique Reference Number Barnet Local Authority 276495 Inspection number 4 °5 May 2006 Inspection dates Daniel Kilborn Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005.

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Primary Type of school Community School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll School

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The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Ros White Chair Miss Alison Godfrey Not previously inspected Date of previous school inspection Hatchcroft School address off Greyhound Hill Hendon London NW4 4JH

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02082033113 Telephone number 02082026909 Fax number

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3 °11 Age group 4 °5 May 2006 Inspection dates 276495 Inspection number .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied.

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

The school is an average sized primary school. It serves a culturally diverse population and nearly two thirds of pupils have a first language other than English. There are 29 different languages spoken. The proportion of pupils joining or leaving the school at other than the usual times is high. A third of the pupils are refugees and asylum seekers. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties is broadly average and 6 pupils have a statement of educational need. Overall an average proportion of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 7 Inspection Report: Sunnyfields Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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What the school should do to improve further

* Raise standards and achievement in writing, by giving pupils more opportunities to use writing skills across all subjects. * Improve the quality of teaching and learning to ensure more consistent progress.

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Grade:

Overall teaching is satisfactory with examples of good teaching and learning across the school. Teaching has improved since the previous inspection but there is still not enough good teaching resulting in inconsistent progress across the school. Resources are used well and help pupils' understanding. Pupils identified as needing additional help are supported well by teachers and classroom assistants. Where teaching is most effective, teachers share clear objectives, match work well to pupil ability and have high expectations of behaviour and work-rate. Pupils are given good opportunities to share their work with each other. For example, in a good science lesson in Year 2 pupils developed their observational skills well by sharing them with other pupils. In less successful lessons weaknesses in teachers` day-to-day assessments of progress result in work that is either too easy or too difficult. The school marking policy is inconsistently

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Grade:

applied across classes. The best marking gives guidance to show pupils how to improve and encourages them to assess their own work.

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Grade:

The school has focussed on raising and maintaining standards in English, mathematics and science. This has been generally successful but has resulted in less time being devoted to other subjects. The curriculum overall is broad and balanced but the school recognises the need to be more creative and enable pupils to use their skills across subjects. There is a wide range of after school activities which the pupils enjoy. The Foundation Stage curriculum covers the areas of learning appropriately. There are good systems to support pupils at the early stages of learning English and those new to school. Provision for pupils' personal, social and health education is good.

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Grade:

All staff are committed to making the school a safe and caring place where the needs of all pupils are paramount. Pupils say they are confident that they will be listened to and supported 4 of 7 Inspection Report: Sunnyfields Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006 if anything is worrying them. The headteacher works effectively with other agencies to support vulnerable pupils and their families and to improve the attendance and punctuality of more persistent absentees. One parent commented 'it is heartening to note the seriousness with which issues such as attendance and punctuality are taken by the school.' There are good systems for child protection and requirements regarding risk assessments are met. All teachers pay good attention to health and safety aspects. Monitoring of pupils' progress is satisfactory and the outcomes are used increasingly well to support and guide pupils' academic and personal development. Current targets have been set using this improved tracking information.

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Grade:

5 of 7 Inspection Report: Sunnyfields Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006 .

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Grade:

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 7 Inspection Report: Sunnyfields Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Pupils I would like to thank you on behalf of the inspectors for the friendly and helpful way you welcomed us to Sunnyfields School. We enjoyed our visit and were especially impressed with the way you all get on well together. It is clear that you enjoy coming to your school and are proud of it. Children who have arrived from other places say they were also made to feel very welcome and soon made new friends. You behave well, like and trust your teachers and you tell us that that they look after you well if you have any problems. Your headteacher and all the staff are working hard to make the school better. We know your teachers and other visitors to school tell you about keeping safe and teach you about healthy eating and which foods are good for you. You work hard in class, help each other with work and listen when other children or your teacher is talking. You do especially well when lessons are interesting and the work you are given is

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

not too hard or too easy. Work in mathematics and science is improving, but we think you could be better at writing and have asked your teachers to give you more opportunities to practice. We were very pleased to see how many of you take part in the after school activities and thought the ecology garden was superb! The new playground apparatus looks great fun and the school council and your parents are to be congratulated for their part in making it possible. Best wishes for the future Daniel Kilborn Lead Inspector 7 of 7 Inspection Report: Sunnyfields Primary School, 4 °5 May 2006

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