La Salette Catholic Primary School

Inspection Report La Salette Catholic Primary School

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102330 Unique Reference Number Havering Local Authority 276698 Inspection number 2 October 2006 Inspection date Nick Butt 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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Dunedin Road School address Primary Type of school Rainham Voluntary aided School category RM13 8SP 4 °11 Age range of pupils 01708 555554 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01708 521861 Fax number 221 Number on roll (school) Father M Fura Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs G Allcorn Headteacher 17 January 2000 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection date Age group 276698 2 October 2006 4 °11 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 an Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This is a smaller than average school serving a mixed residential area. Few pupils are eligible for free school meals. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties is below average. About four out of five pupils are of White British origin. The largest minority ethnic group is Black African. The school has an award for teaching basic skills. At the time of the inspection the newly appointed deputy was acting headteacher.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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Grade: 2

This is a successful school that provides a good quality of education with outstanding features. A parent perceptively summed it up as, 'very supportive, caring and well organised'. It places the needs of the child at the centre of all it does, with a strong ethos based on Christian values. There is a committed and dedicated staff team, and effective systems in place that ensure the smooth running of the school. In national tests, the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard is consistently significantly above average, although in 2006 in writing no pupil attained the higher level either in Year 2 or in Year 6. Nevertheless, achievement is good. Teaching and learning are good. Teachers make lessons interesting and fun and this means pupils are enthusiastic and keen to learn. They plan well for the needs of the majority of pupils, but do not always provide sufficient challenge for the most able

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Grade: 2

pupils in writing. As a result, while most pupils make good or very good progress, in writing in particular the more able pupils do not attain the higher levels. The curriculum contributes well to pupils' outstanding personal development and well being, encouraging them to cooperate together and to listen attentively to one another's views. One child commented, 'our school is great because we have a golden rule - respect' and this is very evident in the exceptionally good relationships between staff and pupils, and among the pupils themselves. The school provides a very high level of care for all its pupils, so that they feel safe and secure and happy to go to an adult with a problem. A child said, 'we have a lot of friendly people here'. They display high levels of self-confidence and are very well equipped in basic skills, which serve them well as they move on to secondary school. The parish plays an important role in the life of the school, and pupils contribute in

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Grade: 2

an outstanding way to their local community, for example in singing carols to the elderly, and regularly participating in services at the nearby church. They thoroughly enjoy school, and this is reflected in their good achievement, as they apply themselves with gusto to their work. The leadership and management of the school are good, and have had a positive impact in lifting the performance of those pupils who do not tend to do as well as their peers. There is a consistency of approach among staff, and effective procedures are in place to review the work of the school. Parents are very supportive of all that the school provides. One called the school, 'home from home'. The children in the Foundation Stage are well taught and make good progress in their Reception year, even though the accommodation is less than ideal.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Raise standards in writing by ensuring the more able pupils are consistently challenged. 2 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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Grade: 2

Test results and pupils' work show that standards are significantly above average and have been maintained at this level over several years. Children enter the school with a wide range of abilities, but their social skills in particular are below average. Because of the school's very high levels of care and the way it promotes pupils' outstanding personal development, these children come on in leaps and bounds and settle in very quickly. Achievement is good. There is good support for pupils with learning difficulties, and they make good progress. The effective teaching benefits pupils of average or slightly lower ability very well, and most meet or exceed their targets. While more able pupils perform well in mathematics and science, they are not consistently challenged to attain the higher levels in writing.

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Grade: 1

Pupils' outstanding spiritual, social, moral and cultural development means that they have great respect for one another and for their community. Their behaviour is excellent. Attendance is above average, which reflects pupils' huge enjoyment of school. One pupil said, 'they let us learn in an interesting way so we take it in more'. This is demonstrated in their very positive attitudes to learning, and willingness to take a full part in lessons, especially in sharing their work with their classmates. The school council is justifiably proud of their involvement in improving school meals and in updating the playground with new markings. Pupils take regular exercise and enjoy participating in a good range of sports clubs. They contribute splendidly to their own school community as well as further afield. One parent wrote, 'The older children welcome new children and have no hesitation with playing with them in the playground'.

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Grade: 1

Because of their high levels of confidence and academic success, pupils develop a love of learning which prepares them very well for the future.

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Grade: 2

Pupils learn well because teachers are clear about the aims of a lesson and explain them in interesting ways. Very good relationships mean that learning is fun, and teachers have generally high expectations of what pupils can do. In a poetry lesson, for example, the teacher's good subject knowledge meant that pupils received helpful feedback about their ideas, and were able to improve their work. One child described the moon as 'a white lily pad floating on the river'. Teachers ask searching questions of pupils and make good use of the ends of lessons to summarise what they have been learning. Not enough use is made of the class computers to support the pupils' learning. 3 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006 In writing lessons in particular all pupils tend to do the same work. While this benefits the majority of pupils, it is sometimes not demanding enough for the more able.

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Grade: 2

There is a good broad and balanced curriculum that is relevant and interests pupils. Some links are made across subjects, although not so many through information and communication technology (ICT). This was not helped by a burglary during the summer holiday, which left the school without its data projectors. Children in the Foundation Stage enjoy a variety of well selected activities to develop their skills, despite accommodation that is split across the school site. Strong links with the church enhance the curriculum. The school has recently invested in culturally relevant reading schemes, but other books in classrooms are now out of date and not representative of pupils' multicultural diversity. There is a good range of enrichment activities, which contribute well to pupils' personal development. The older pupils enjoy residential visits, and many visitors come to talk to the pupils about life outside of school.

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Grade: 1

Care, guidance and support are outstanding. One child summed it up when he said, 'It's a nice small school and you know everyone and it's a big family'. Consequently, pupils flourish, especially in their personal development and well being. Child protection procedures are fully up to date and closed circuit television has recently been installed to combat burglaries. Pupils are very well supported in their academic progress. They know their targets, and these are shared with parents every term both in meetings and in a useful book that goes home. Pupils with learning difficulties are well supported, and parents are fully involved in discussing their progress. A robust system of measuring how well pupils are doing identifies quickly those who may be at risk of falling behind so that something can be done to support them.

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Grade: 2

Despite recent changes in senior leadership, the strong staff team gives the school stability and consistency, which is why the quality of provision is good, and pupils achieve well. All staff make excellent role models for pupils especially in showing respect, which is reflected in the outstanding attitudes and behaviour seen throughout the school. Even though the headteacher was away during the inspection, her very positive influence is apparent in the high expectations of staff and the caring ethos of the school. The acting headteacher is providing confident leadership, and new subject leaders are getting to grips with their responsibilities well. The school benefits from a supportive and active governing body. At present much of the work is done at termly meetings of the full governing body. While there is a finance committee, matters relating to the curriculum and buildings are not dealt with in committees, and this

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Grade: 2

4 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006 means a lot of extra work for the full governing body. The school has a realistic view of its performance and is in no way complacent. The new leadership team is well placed to continue building on the school's many achievements. 5 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006 .

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Grade: 2

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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Inspection judgements

School Overall Key to judgements: grade 1 is outstanding, grade 2 good, grade 3 satisfactory, and grade 4 inadequate

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Overall effectiveness

How effective, efficient and inclusive is the provision of education, integrated care and any extended services in meeting the needs of learners? How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 2 The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 2 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

1 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 1 The behaviour of learners 2 The attendance of learners 1 How well learners enjoy their education 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community How well learners develop workplace and other skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being

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and interests of learners?

1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average to below average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low. 7 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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and supporting all learners?

How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can How effectively and efficiently resources, including staff, are deployed to achieve value for money The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities Yes Do procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements? No Does this school require special measures? No Does this school require a notice to improve? 8 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for making me so welcome when I visited your school. I was very impressed with your excellent behaviour and enjoyed talking to you. The school is good and successful, especially in making sure you reach high standards in your work. You have a golden rule - respect - and this is very clear in the way you treat one another, and in the very good relationships you enjoy with adults. You feel safe and know there is always someone you can go to if you have a problem. The teaching is good, and you enjoy your lessons. You make good progress and work hard. The school is well led, and all the staff work very well together to make sure you get a good education. They care for you exceptionally well, and there is a real family atmosphere in your school. I believe that those of you who find writing easy could be given harder work to do so that you meet your targets. I know you already discuss your progress with your teachers, and you might

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

like to think about ways that you would like to develop your writing. Thank you once again for your help during my visit. I know your school is going to go from strength to strength. With best wishes, Yours sincerely, Mr. N. Butt,Lead Inspector 9 Inspection Report: La Salette Catholic Primary School, 2 October 2006

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