Mason Moor Primary School, Nursery & Specialist Bases

Inspection Report Mason Moor Primary School

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116263 Unique Reference Number Southampton Local Authority 290476 Inspection number 18 °19 September 2006 Inspection dates Janet Sinclair 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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Helvellyn Road School address Primary Type of school Millbrook Community School category Southampton SO16 4AS 4 °11 Age range of pupils 02380390140 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 02380390150 Fax number 246 Number on roll (school) Mr Peter Howard Chair The governing body Appropriate authority (Acting) Mrs Susanne Ottens Headteacher

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30 April 2001 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 290476 18 °19 September 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is an average sized primary school whose pupils are mainly from disadvantaged backgrounds. Attainment on entry is low. The number of pupils entitled to free school meals is much higher than average as are the number of pupils with learning difficulties. There is an attached unit for pupils with moderate learning difficulties. Pupil mobility is higher than average. There are a small number of pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds and some who are at an early stage of learning English. The school has been through a difficult time recently due to the sudden illness and subsequent retirement of its headteacher.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006

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Grade: 3

This is a satisfactory and improving school with good potential for further improvement. The school has been through a difficult time recently however, the acting headteacher and her deputies have provided stability and continued development. The acting headteacher has given a strong lead in the school's drive to raise standards, promote inclusion and improve the quality of teaching. Parents think that the school is well managed and are pleased that they are kept well informed. Provision is good in the Foundation Stage and children achieve well across the areas of learning given their low starting points. Standards are improving at Key Stage1 so that they are close to the national average in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupil achievement is good. Although standards at the end of Key Stage 2 remain below average in English, mathematics and science, pupil achievement is accelerating and is close to satisfactory given their capabilities and starting points.

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Grade: 3

One of the reasons for the accelerated achievement is the better use of assessment to track pupils' progress. This is especially effective for providing immediate support for those pupils who are making limited improvement. This increased progress in recent times has gone a long way to addressing the backlog of underachievement. However, boys' achievement in writing remains unsatisfactory. The school provides well for pupils with learning difficulties including those in the unit. Pupils enjoy coming to school and there is an effective school council which has supported the school well in its drive to improve attendance, which is currently unsatisfactory. Teaching is satisfactory overall; it is good in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Very good support staff make an effective contribution to pupils' learning. There is a good range of clubs and visits to enhance the curriculum and increase pupil enjoyment.

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Grade: 3

Care of pupils is good and they feel safe and well supported. Vulnerable pupils and their families are given very good guidance. Governors are very supportive. The school's effectiveness is satisfactory. Overall improvement since the last inspection is also satisfactory.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Improve standards and achievement in English and mathematics at Key Stage 2 by improving the quality of teaching to ensure that all lessons are stimulating enough to fully engage pupils. • Improve boys' achievement in writing by ensuring they have plenty of opportunities to write, especially about things that interest them. • Improve attendance by ensuring all parents are clear about the impact that non-attendance has on their child's progress. 2 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006

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Grade: 3

Attainment on entry is low. Children make good progress in the Foundation Stage, especially in their personal, social and emotional development, due to good provision. However, children's attainment remains below the expected levels across most areas of learning on entry to Year 1. Standards across the school were low over a three year period up to 2005. Pupil achievement was below average. In 2006, standards at the end of Year 2 showed significant improvement being broadly in line with the national average. This represents good achievement overall. There was also a slight improvement in standards at the end of Year 6, although they remain below average. However, achievement was close to satisfactory given pupils' capabilities and starting points. The main area of underachievement was in boys' writing and the school has a number of effective strategies already in place that address this well. The school has been dealing with a backlog of underachievement and has been given a

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Grade: 3

great deal of support from the local authority. This coupled with the strenuous efforts of staff over time and the clear direction and rigour of the acting headteacher has almost eliminated it. The targets set for the current Year 6 are challenging but the school is implementing a range of strategies intended to ensure they are met. Pupils with learning difficulties make good progress against the targets set in their individual education plans and the unit provides well for pupils with moderate learning difficulties ensuring they make good progress. Pupils with English as an additional language make similar progress to their peers.

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Grade: 3

Pupils' personal development and well being are satisfactory. Attendance is below the national average but improving due to the school's efforts including the school council's suggestion of rewards for good attendance. Pupils have good attitudes to learning and clearly enjoy school. One said that "lessons are imaginative and fun". Behaviour is satisfactory and often good, although there is some deterioration after lunch. Good use is made of an achievement coach to help pupils with challenging behaviour. Although there are occasional instances of bullying, pupils feel they are dealt with promptly. Pupils feel safe in school and know there are adults who will help them. They know about healthy eating through involvement in the 'sticky fingers' club where they prepare and eat healthy food. Pupils' overall spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is satisfactory. However, through the good emphasis placed on respect for their own and others feelings, the

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Grade: 3

school promotes pupils' moral and social development well. An example of this was the good lesson where pupils discussed the effect that negative and positive comments had on their self-esteem. The school's caring ethos helps pupils to develop concern for others and they learn about other cultures in lessons. 3 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006 Pupils assume responsibilities willingly and work well with others, for example, through the School Council. Links with the community such as the police and local football clubs prepares pupils well for later life.

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Grade: 3

Teaching and learning are good in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, and satisfactory in Key Stage 2. Recent rigorous monitoring of teaching has led to improvements ensuring that there is now no unsatisfactory teaching in the school. Across the school, very good teaching assistants effectively contribute to pupils' learning. Additionally, group and paired work is helping pupils to work collaboratively. In Reception, the good range of relevant and often exciting activities and very good relationships ensure children are engaged in their learning. An outstanding lesson in Year 2 was typical of the very good attention given to pupils' individual needs and challenging work that stimulates and engages pupils in their learning in Key Stage 1. In Key Stage 2, all lessons are well planned, relationships are good and a variety of approaches and resources are used. In the good lessons, work is challenging and there

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Grade: 3

is a good pace that fully involves pupils in their learning. However, sometimes lessons are not well matched to pupils' needs and some lose interest. Also, too much time is spent on teacher talk and there is not enough whole class involvement so pupils are not sufficiently stimulated or engaged. Assessment procedures are good in the classroom and teachers adjust their lesson planning when they find that individuals need more time or support - pupils contribute to this in Year 2 by using the thumbs up or down signal to evaluate their own learning.

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Grade: 3

The curriculum is satisfactory. It is planned and organised to ensure continuity in pupils' learning and subjects such as history are used well to support progress in literacy. Pupils use lap tops in their classrooms twice weekly for lessons. The Foundation Stage curriculum is well planned and very relevant to the children's needs. The unit for pupils with moderate learning difficulties is particularly effective in ensuring that its pupils access the full range of activities in the school. There is a good range of extra curricular opportunities, particularly in sport. The flourishing school garden indicates the success of the gardening club. There are some well- planned visits, which pupils enjoy. The good provision for personal social and health education, good links with other schools and clubs as well as the good range of additional curricular activities, support pupils' personal development well.

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Grade: 3

4 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006

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Grade: 2

The quality of care, guidance and support is good and pupils are learning in a safe and healthy environment. The school promotes healthy eating and pupils are given lots of opportunities to find out about healthy living through visitors promoting healthy eating and in science lessons. Younger children are very well cared for and settle into school well. Health and safety procedures and child protection measures are fully in place and the monitoring of behaviour and attendance is good. Pupils are well supervised at break and lunchtime. Vulnerable pupils and those with learning difficulties are cared for well and effective links with parents, partner schools and outside agencies are used to ensure their well-being. Parents say that their children settle into school well and enjoy it. Assessment procedures are improving and the increased rigour in tracking and target setting is accelerating the progress of all pupils. This is especially effective for those

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Grade: 2

who are making limited progress as they are immediately targeted for extra support. There are good systems to monitor how well reception children are doing and to ensure they are appropriately challenged.

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Grade: 3

Leadership and management are satisfactory overall. The acting headteacher is particularly effective in continuing to develop the work of the school through rigorously monitoring teaching and learning to secure improvement. This, alongside the increased focus on tracking pupils' progress and addressing underachievement, is raising standards. This has already improved the quality of teaching and ensured residual underachievement is being tackled. The acting headteacher is supported well by the senior management team who are developing their roles so that they all have a clearer view of the strengths and weaknesses of the school as a whole. They have helped to identify the key areas for improvement and are fully involved in evaluating the effectiveness of actions. Subject leaders, although satisfactory overall, are also taking greater responsibility for standards and provision in their subjects. New subject leaders are enthusiastic about their roles

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Grade: 3

and clear about what needs to be done. Governors are passionate about the school and committed to supporting its continued development. They are fully involved through their committees and have a good understanding of the financial implications of their decisions. However, they are less sure about standards over time and the resultant implications in terms of achievement. Parents are very supportive of the school and are kept fully informed. 5 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006 .

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Grade: 3

set out in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 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

3 How well do learners achieve? 3 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 3 How well learners with learning difficulties and disabilities make progress

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learners?

3 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 3 The behaviour of learners 4 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 3 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 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?

2 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: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 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: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Thank you for helping us with the inspection. We enjoyed talking to you and were very impressed with your friendliness. We found your school to be satisfactory overall, and getting better. We liked your work as a school council and how you are helping to improve the school. We could see how you enjoy school and how kind and helpful your teachers are. You are mainly doing well at school but older pupils need more help from their teachers to improve their work and boys particularly need help with their writing. You are well cared for by all the staff in the school and you have good clubs to attend and many visitors to help you. What we have asked your school to do now: Help those of you in Key Stage 2 to do even better in English and mathematics. Help boys to improve their writing - the boys could help by practising more too. Improve attendance - your school council is already trying to help with this.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Mrs J Sinclair Lead inspector 9 Inspection Report: Mason Moor Primary School, 18 °19 September 2006

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