Clifford Community Primary School & Nursery

Inspection Report Clifford Road Primary School

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124654 Unique Reference Number SUFFOLK LEA LEA 281773 Inspection number 23 January 2006 to 24 January 2006 Inspection dates Ms. Cheryl Thompson LI Reporting inspector

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

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Clifford Road School address Primary Type of school IP4 1PJ Community School category 4 to 11 Age range of pupils 01473251605 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01473221224 Fax number 400 Number on roll Mr.John cook Chair of governors The governing body Appropriate authority Mr. Richard Cove Headteacher 31 January 2000 Date of previous inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 281773 23 January 2006 - 4 to 11 24 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 large primary school with children who come from average social and economic backgrounds. Most children are of White British descent. There are small numbers of Asian, Chinese, Black British and mixed heritage children. The proportions of children who have English as an additional language, who are eligible for free school meals and who have learning difficulties and disabilities, are similar to those found nationally.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 January 2006

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Grade: 3

Clifford Road Primary School provides a satisfactory education and is adequate value for money. The school views itself as good. The inspection team judges that it is satisfactory because, for example, children's progress is satisfactory rather than good. Most parents are satisfied with the school but a significant number expressed concern regarding the lack of information about what their children do at school and about the provision in mixed-age classes. A strength is the good provision for children for whom English is an additional language. The quality and standards in the Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) are satisfactory, with strengths in children's good personal development. Standards are above average in English and average in science. Most children achieve satisfactorily. Whilst standards in mathematics are average, children do not make enough progress from year to year and more able children do

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Grade: 3

not do as well as they should. In the mixed-age classes (in Years 3, 4 and 5), a few children underachieve because work is not planned well enough. Teaching is satisfactory overall, with some good and outstanding features. The school collects a great deal of information from tests and assessments but is not yet making the best use of it to make sure all children do as well as possible. Children enjoy school. Staff know their children well and take care of them. Children, in turn, know they are valued. They have positive attitudes and behaviour and attendance is good. Leadership and management are satisfactory. Issues raised during the last inspection have been tackled adequately, which indicates that the school has a capacity to secure further improvement.

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What the school should do to improve further

- Raise standards and achievement in mathematics and science and particularly for more able children. - Make effective use of all the information the school has on children's attainment to ensure they achieve well and to provide measurable targets for school improvement. - Make sure children of the same age and ability in mixed age classes have similarly demanding work. - Provide parents with regular information about the work being covered in classes.

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Grade: 3

The school judges that children's achievement and standards are satisfactory overall and inspectors agree. Children's attainment on entry is broadly average. They make sound progress through the Foundation Stage, developing positive attitudes and self confidence to have a go at things on their own. Standards attained by children in Years 2 and 6 in the 2005 national tests were average overall, with little difference between the attainment of boys and girls. The strongest subject is English where standards were above average in Year 6, and Year 2 children did particularly well in writing. In mathematics and science, standards in Year 6 were average. The school's targets for attainment were met in English but in mathematics, at the higher than average standard, Level 5, targets have not been met for the past two years. In mathematics children do 2 Inspection Report: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 January 2006

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Grade: 3

not make enough progress. Standards in information and communication technology (ICT) are average. In the mixed age classes, children's progress is inconsistent. For example, children in Year 4 do well in the Year 4 and 5 classes. However, there are elements of underachievement for Year 4 children in the Year 3 and 4 classes mainly due to teachers' lack of careful planning to make sure all children of the same age and ability have similarly demanding work. Children with learning difficulties and disabilities make satisfactory progress. Those for whom English is an additional language make good progress from their starting points because their progress is tracked carefully and they and their families receive good support.

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Grade: 3

Children's personal development is satisfactory. Provision for their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is now adequate and the school has improved its provision for spiritual development since the last inspection. Relationships between staff and children are good and contribute to children's positive attitudes to their work and generally good behaviour. Whilst a small amount of bullying takes place, mainly amongst the older children, they report it is dealt with effectively by staff. Due to the school's effective procedures, attendance is above the national average. Children have a sound understanding of how to eat healthily, the importance of exercise and how to keep themselves safe. The school council gives adequate opportunities for children to take on responsibility. Community events and fund-raising activities help children to develop initiative. Children's development of skills useful for their future is good

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Grade: 3

in basic literacy, particularly in writing. They use computers competently. However, progress in developing number skills is uneven for some.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are satisfactory overall and examples of good and outstanding teaching were observed. Where teaching is good, teachers manage classes well so that children concentrate and enjoy work which is well planned to meet their needs. A notable feature is children's review of their own learning. They use a 'traffic light' system very well to show the teacher when they need, or do not need help. In outstanding lessons the pace is fast and lively activities serve to reinforce learning and strengthen children's understanding. Teaching assistants contribute effectively to learning, particularly in the Nursery and Reception classes, and when they take responsibility for a group or class. A great deal of very useful information such as results of tests and teachers' assessments is collected. Currently, not enough use is made of this to ensure each child's best possible progress. Sometimes introductory

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Grade: 3

sessions take too long, the pace is too slow, and too little account is taken of what pupils can or cannot already do. This problem is magnified in the mixed age classes 3 Inspection Report: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 January 2006 where children's needs vary widely. Very occasionally, teaching is ineffective because behaviour is not managed well.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is broad and meets children's needs. Provision for ICT has improved since the last inspection. Children now benefit from regular, planned teaching in the computer suite. The curriculum in the Foundation Stage includes all that is required. In Reception, a few activities require children to sit and listen for too long and they do not always have enough opportunities for learning outdoors. Children have good opportunities to exercise and practise their physical skills, for example, in the school swimming pool, and in special activities such as archery. The 'air raid shelter museum' in the playground is a focus for the community, and extends children's historical awareness. A reasonable range of visits and visitors add to the richness of the curriculum. The school provides a good range of clubs outside the school day. These clubs, from computers and drama, to choir and football are very popular and well

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Grade: 3

The school provides satisfactory care and guidance. Good support is given to children who are at an early stage in learning English. Good arrangements, such as home visits, ensure children settle in well in the Foundation Stage. The school has adequate procedures for ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils. Police checks are carried out on all the adults who work with the children, whether as staff or volunteers. The school has good arrangements for following up absence, and this leads to children's good attendance and punctuality. The school is not giving parents enough information about what their children are learning and how well they are doing. In their day-to-day work, children know their targets and have a good idea of what they need to do to improve their work. The school's system for tracking and checking on children's progress rigorously, while only very recently in place, is efficient.

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Grade: 3

The school rates leadership and management as good but inspectors judge it to be satisfactory, with areas of strength. The headteacher has a clear focus on standards but until very recently the school's approach to ensuring all pupils achieve well has not been good enough. A good feature is the developing role of the new strategic leadership team. Their astute checks on teachers' planning and how well children are progressing have already brought about good improvements. Leadership of the language support for children with English is an additional language is good because their progress is carefully checked. Good relationships with their parents promote positive learning experiences for the whole family. The school has satisfactory systems 4 Inspection Report: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 January 2006 overall for checking on its work and has a reasonable idea of its strengths and what

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Grade: 3

needs improving. Information about children's progress is not used to set easily measurable targets for improvement in the school improvement plan. A new and efficient system for keeping very close track of children's progress has just been introduced by the deputy headteacher but there has not been enough time for it to have noticeable impact on raising achievement. Parents are consulted annually. In their comments to inspectors a number of parents felt little notice was taken of their views. Issues mentioned by parents to inspectors were found to be valid. There has been satisfactory improvement since the last inspection. Governors have developed their roles and recognise that they now need to be more rigorous as 'critical friends.' Improvement in the quality and number of ICT resources has been good, and as a consequence ICT standards are no longer unsatisfactory, but average. 5 Inspection Report: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 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: Clifford Road Primary School, 23 January 2006 to 24 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 3 How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? NA 3 The quality and standards in foundation stage NA 3 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 3 How well do learners achieve? NA 3 The standards 1 reached by learners

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Achievement and standards

NA 3 How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners NA 3 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

NA 3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development NA 2 The behaviour of learners NA 2 The attendance of learners NA 2 How well learners enjoy their education NA 3 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices NA 3 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles NA 3 The extent to which learners make a positive contribution to the community NA 3 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 3 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 3 How effectively leaders and managers at all levels set clear direction leading to improvement and promote high quality of care and education NA 3 How effectively performance is monitored, evaluated and improved to meet challenging targets, through quality assurance and self-review NA 3 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination tackled so that all learners achieve as well as they can NA 3 How effectively and efficiently resources are deployed to achieve value for money NA 3 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

Thank you for welcoming us to your school and being so friendly. We enjoyed talking to you about the things you like doing in school. We were impressed with how you don't have much time off school and how well behaved you are in assemblies. You told us that you enjoyed your lessons, your clubs and trips and that everyone in school looks after you and listens to you if you have a problem. We noticed that teachers care about you and staff look after you. We saw that children who join your school speaking no English are made to feel very welcome and soon pick up the language. Your headteacher and the senior teachers are making sure you enjoy school and get a reasonable education. We have asked them to do a few things to make your school even better. We would like them to send your parents regular information about the work you are doing in class. We have also asked them to improve some of the teaching and

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

make sure you get on better, especially in maths. When teachers have given you tests or checked on your work we have asked that all this information is used to make sure you do as well as you can. Thank you again for the help with the inspection of your school.

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