Lytham Hall Park Primary School

Inspection Report Lytham Hall Park Primary School

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119315 Unique Reference Number Lancashire LEA 280522 Inspection number 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006 Inspection dates Mrs Lynne Read Reporting inspector

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

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South Park School address Primary Type of school Lytham Community School category Lytham St Annes, Lancashire 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01253 738864 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01253 732529 Fax number 251 Number on roll Cnllr Steven Mason Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Carolyn Vickers Headteacher 1 February 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 280522 17 January 2006 - 4 to 11 18 January 2006 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a slightly larger than average primary school in the town of Lytham in Lancashire. The pupils come from an area of private housing and the number claiming free school meals is below average. Most are white British with a small proportion having Asian, Caribbean or European heritage. Around two per cent of pupils are bilingual; none are in the early stages of learning English as an additional language. When they enter the reception class, pupils’ attainment is above average. There is a lower than average number of pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities, including those who have statements of special educational need. A private unit is attached to the school providing nursery education together with before and after-school care.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006

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Grade: 2

Lytham Hall Park Primary judges itself as a good school; the inspectors agree and have identified some outstanding features. It has a deservedly high reputation and provides good value for money. Outstanding partnerships with parents, other schools and outside agencies provide many benefits to pupils’ learning. Children enter the school with levels of skill which are above average; they are given a very good start to their education in the Reception class and make good progress in Years 1 and 2. By the time pupils leave Year 6, they are achieving results which are well above the national average. The school has particular strengths in the ways its cares for, guides and supports it pupils, and in the outstanding enrichment of the curriculum. Both factors support pupils’ good progress and their outstanding personal development. The headteacher very effectively leads the drive for excellence and is very effectively supported by the

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Grade: 2

senior and subject managers and the governors. Teaching is mostly good with outstanding features although there are some inconsistencies in teachers’ expectations and in following the school’s marking policy. The high standards of provision and attainment seen at the last inspection have been maintained and good improvements made in the provision and attainment for information and communication technology (ICT) and in pupils’ understanding of cultural diversity. There is good capacity for even further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

In order to continue the drive for excellence, the senior and subject managers should use the good amount of monitoring information they have gathered to ensure consistency in teachers’ expectations regarding the quality of pupils’ work and presentation and in following the school’s marking policy.

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Grade: 2

This is a school where standards are high and pupils achieve well. Those with learning difficulties progress very well along their individual programmes of study. Children have above-average standards of learning overall when they enter the reception class. They make good progress as independent learners. By the end of the year, the majority have reached the expected learning goals and a good number have exceeded them. In Years 1 and 2 pupils make good progress in the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics. Results show attainment that is consistently well above average. By year 6, these high standards are maintained and pupils meet the challenging targets that are set. The percentage of pupils who achieve level 5 in English, mathematics and 2 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006 science is well above average. On a few occasions, however, presentation and the

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Grade: 2

accuracy of work drop below the usual, good standard. Pupils’ creative skills are well developed. The standard of choral singing is exceptional and art work is of a good standard. More able pupils attain the highest levels, often well before the end of Year 6. Their skills of investigation, problem solving and personal study are excellent. Pupils from minority ethnic groups and those who are bilingual achieve well.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are outstanding. Pupils love school and are enthusiastic about the extensive range of experiences provided for them. Attendance is well above average which is a reflection of pupils’ outstanding attitudes to school. Behaviour is outstanding and pupils exhibit very good self discipline. Spiritual, social, moral and cultural development is promoted very well. For example, there are many rewards for good work or actions and interesting, collaborative activities that encourage social interaction. Thoughtful assembly themes, together with the promotion of environmental awareness help to develop a sense of spirituality. Pupils have a good understanding of the range of cultures in society and show good respect for beliefs that are different from their own. They are well aware of the benefits of healthy diets and exercise and consider lifestyle choices. Pupils’ views are sought

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Grade: 1

and highly valued; they are involved in making important management decisions through their school council. They are encouraged to apply for a wide range of responsibilities around school and carry out their jobs diligently. These opportunities, together with high standards in the core skills, means pupils are well placed to secure a positive economic future for themselves.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good overall and there are some outstanding features across the school. Pupils benefit from teachers’ specialist skills, for example in drama, music or sport. Very interesting tasks challenge pupils’ thinking so that they develop confidence in solving problems and investigating for themselves. Information from the constant assessments of learning is used well to ensure that tasks match pupils’ needs, including the increasing number of talented pupils. Teachers give good oral feedback in lessons and through marking so pupils know how to extend their learning. In the majority of lessons, teachers insist on good standards of accuracy and presentation in the work and pupils respond very positively. There is, however, a small amount of inconsistency in this approach which results in careless mistakes and presentation. 3 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning in the reception class is good. Here, and in Years 1 and 2, the teaching of sounds and letters underpins pupils’ very good progress in reading and writing. Well informed teaching assistants provide good, sensitive support for pupils who need extra help so they do well. Supportive parents ensure that homework is completed to a good standard and many bring their skills into the classroom to enrich learning.

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Grade: 2

The school provides a good curriculum, enhanced by an outstanding range of extra curricular activities. Pupils are eager and happy learners because their personal and learning needs are well met. They speak with great enthusiasm about all the interesting and exciting opportunities offered to them, especially sporting and musical activities. Parents are very pleased with all the school has to offer. The curriculum for reception children provides very good opportunities for them to explore and investigate and includes imaginative use of the outdoor area. Provision throughout the school for those pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities is good. The very good personal, social and health education programme helps pupils to keep safe and stay healthy and prepares them well for the future. Good opportunities are provided for children to use their literacy and ICT skills in other subjects but there is

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Grade: 2

scope to extend the use of numeracy skills.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ health, safety and protection are seen as paramount and this is an outstanding feature of the school. Parents are highly appreciative of this commitment. Governors and staff work hard to ensure that the relevant policies are in place and that they are followed systematically. Risk assessments and child protection procedures are consequently of a very high quality. Induction arrangements for children starting school are good and help them to settle happily. Staff know pupils well and provide a useful programme for personal development. There are high expectations of behaviour and pupils are well aware of the agreed school rules. Relationships are excellent and pupils are confident to approach adults if they experience problems. Pupils’ academic needs are thoroughly understood. They have clear targets for learning so they know how to improve and are increasingly involved in evaluating their own

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Grade: 1

progress. These aspects are outstanding and are encouraging pupils to be thoughtful, independent and ambitious learners. 4 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006

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Grade: 2

The school judges this aspect to be good and inspectors agree. The headteacher provides outstanding leadership which is based firmly on high achievement. The vision for excellence and the caring ethos are shared by all staff who work enthusiastically to ensure that pupils do their best and have equal access to all activities. Through their very effective evaluation procedures, staff and governors have a clear idea of what needs to be done and have a detailed plan showing what actions are being introduced and planned for the coming years. The system of tracking pupils’ performance and setting targets for further improvement in English, mathematics and science is very effective and ensures that the high standards are maintained. Initial action has been taken to improve the consistency of expectations in lessons but the full impact of this work is not yet evident. The management of finances is very efficient. In partnership with the parents, managers

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Grade: 2

are highly successful in fundraising and securing the skills of outside professionals. As a result, pupils have the benefit of high quality resources and opportunities for working with specialists, including a language teacher. The learning environment is very stimulating, administration is highly effective and standards of maintenance and cleanliness are high. These factors reflect a shared sense of pride among all adults at the school. The governors are a very strong, well-informed and highly supportive group. They work closely with the headteacher, staff pupils and parents in decision making processes, ensuring that all views are considered. All statutory requirements are met. 5 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006 .

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set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s

website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Lytham Hall Park Primary School, 17 January 2006 to 18 January 2006

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Overall

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

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learners?

NA 1 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA 2 The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation NA Yes The capacity to make any necessary improvements NA Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection

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Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well do learners achieve? NA 1 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 2 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 2 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

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

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needs and interests of learners?

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

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needs and interests of learners?

Grade 1 - Exceptionally and consistently high; Grade 2 - Generally above average with none significantly below average; Grade 3 - Broadly average; Grade 4 - Exceptionally low.

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and supporting all learners?

NA 2 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 2 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 2 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 2 The extent to which governors and other supervisory boards discharge their responsibilities NA Yes The adequacy and suitability of staff to ensure that learners are protected

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The extent to which schools enable learners to be healthy

Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to eat and drink healthily Yes Learners are encouraged and enabled to take regular exercise Yes Learners are discouraged from smoking and substance abuse Yes Learners are educated about sexual health

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The extent to which providers ensure that learners stay safe

Yes Procedures for safeguarding learners meet current government requirements Yes Risk assessment procedures and related staff training are in place Yes Action is taken to reduce anti-social behaviour, such as bullying and racism Yes Learners are taught about key risks and how to deal with them

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The extent to which learners make a positive contribution

Yes Learners are helped to develop stable, positive relationships Yes Learners, individually and collectively, participate in making decisions that affect them Yes Learners are encouraged to initiate, participate in and manage activities in school and the wider community

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The extent to which schools enable learners to achieve economic well-being

Yes There is provision to promote learners’ basic skills Yes Learners have opportunities to develop enterprise skills and work in teams NA Careers education and guidance is provided to all learners in key stage 3 and 4 and the sixth form NA Education for all learners aged 14–19 provides an understanding of employment and the economy

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0207 421 6800 F 0207 421 6707 Ofsted helpline 08456 404045 Lytham Hall Park Primary School South Park Lytham Lytham St Annes Lancashire FY8 4QU 17 January 2006 Dear Children Thank you for the warm welcome you gave myself and Mr Yates when we recently visited your school. The conversations that we had with groups and individuals were very interesting and we enjoyed watching you at work. There are lots of things that we think are good and outstanding at your school. Some of them are: you enjoy the interesting lessons and vast range of extra activities that your teachers plan for you and you work very hard the standard of your learning is much higher than in most schools by the end of Year 6 your behaviour is excellent and you are extremely polite and friendly your teachers take exceptional care to keep you happy and healthy you contribute very well to the running of the school through the many jobs you do and help

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

to make important decisions through your council members. Most of the time your work is accurate and beautifully presented. There are a few occasions, however, when silly mistakes and some untidiness creep in. We know that you are capable of producing high quality work all of the time and we have asked your teachers to help you do this. Thank you once again for helping us so much with the inspection. I hope that you will continue to work hard, enjoy your lessons and to make Lytham Hall Park a super place to be. Yours sincerely Mrs L Read (Lead inspector) Annex B

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