Market Weighton Infant School

Inspection Report Market Weighton Infant School

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117912 Unique Reference Number East Riding of Yorkshire Local Authority 290964 Inspection number 17 °18 January 2007 Inspection dates Geoffrey Cooper 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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Princess Road School address Primary Type of school Market Weighton, York Community School category North Yorkshire, YO43 3EY 3 °7 Age range of pupils 01430 873159 Telephone number Mixed Gender of pupils 01430 873159 Fax number 201 Number on roll (school) Mr Andrew Parks Chair The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Janet Drewery Headteacher 1 June 2002 Date of previous school inspection

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Inspection number Inspection dates Age group 290964 17 °18 January 2007 3°7 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 two Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Few pupils at Market Weighton are entitled to a free school meal. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is low. Almost all pupils come from a White British background. No pupil is learning English as a new language. A feature of the school is the imbalance of boys and girls; in some year groups boys outnumber girls by two to one. When children enter the school, their attainment is broadly average but there is a weakness in their communication and language skills.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 1 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good overall and standards are above the national average. Attainment on entry is broadly average, although school data highlight a weakness in the skills of language and communication. While children in the Foundation Stage make good progress and most acquire or exceed the goals set for their age, standards in language skills remain lower as they enter Year 1. Pupils continue to make good progress to the end of Year 2. The results of national tests are above average and above average standards were seen in the pupils’ work. There are some more able pupils who could do better. Achievement is well supported by pupils’ positive attitudes to learning, reflected in good attendance and good behaviour. These qualities have a strong impact on learning. It is clear that pupils are happy in school and enjoy their work. They eat healthily and participate in vigorous exercise. A mark of the quality of the school’s

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Grade: 2

provision is national recognition through the Activemark gold award and the Healthy Schools award. Pupils show initiative and responsibility by participating in community events and doing jobs around school. The school ensures that pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education, in line with its motto: ‘First steps to tomorrow’s world.’ The quality of teaching is good. Most lessons are brisk and purposeful with generally high expectations of pupils, although an occasional lack of pace leads to some restlessness. The curriculum is good. Its innovative approach ensures its relevance to pupils. Pupils are well cared for within a safe environment. This good provision is the result of resolute leadership and management. The headteacher provides a strong sense of direction for the work of her staff and, through that, the standards and achievements of the pupils. A strong approach to the review, self-evaluation and

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Grade: 2

development of performance ensures that approaches to learning are being continuously refreshed. Self-evaluation is good and has led to recent improvements; the school is well placed to make further improvement. It is strongly supported by an active and committed governing body and it provides good value for money.

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What the school should do to improve further

• Ensure that all the more able pupils achieve as well as they can.

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Grade: 2

Achievement is good. Children in the Foundation Stage and pupils in Key Stage 1 make good progress overall and standards are above the national average by the end of Year 2. Children join the Foundation Stage with average standards, although there is a weakness in the acquisition of early language and communication skills. Most acquire or exceed the goals set for their age, although standards in reading and writing are not as high as in other areas of learning, particularly for those with the potential for higher achievement. School data, confirmed in the work seen, show that standards are above average in Year 2 as a result of continued good progress, and an above 2 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007 average proportion of pupils gain the expected standard for their age. However, some more able pupils do not do as well as they could. Pupils’ achievements are not limited

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Grade: 2

to the basic skills of literacy and numeracy; for example, good opportunities in music and physical activities enable good achievement in these subjects. Good progress is a characteristic of the school, including that made by the small number of pupils with learning difficulties.

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Grade: 2

Personal development, including pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is good. Pupils really enjoy coming to school and are keen to do well. This is reflected in their consistently good attendance and punctuality, which, when allied to their good attitudes and behaviour, support learning well. Pupils eagerly take on responsibilities as monitors and help each other in the playground when acting as playground pals. Pupils are proud of their work on the school council and especially their role in improving behaviour. Their exceptional contribution to the development of the town park, and their involvement in local productions and fund raising for charity, effectively develops their understanding of the wider community. Pupils are aware of the benefits of healthy eating, physical activity and know how to keep safe. Pupils are learning to make choices and to consider the impact of their actions on

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Grade: 2

others. Good personal and academic skills contribute well to pupils’ development as successful young citizens.

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Grade: 2

Teaching and learning are good. Lessons are typically well planned with high expectations of pupils’ participation. Teachers make good use of their subject knowledge and their knowledge of how pupils learn. Pupils enjoy the activities planned for them. Behaviour is well managed and, as a result, pupils show positive enthusiasm for their work. Many lessons are brisk and purposeful with good relationships and an occasional flash of humour. Skilled additional adults, teaching assistants and parental helpers provide good support. The school has responded well to issues from the previous inspection, encouraging independence in learning, use of questioning skills and promoting opportunities for pupils to develop their speaking skills. Sometimes, higher attaining pupils are not always sufficiently challenged. Occasionally, pupils become restless when the pace of lessons is slow. Questioning is used effectively to

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Grade: 2

monitor pupils’ progress during lessons. Work is marked consistently with appropriate reward and praise for meeting the success criteria for the activity. 3 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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Grade: 2

The curriculum is good. It meets national requirements and is well focused on raising standards through the acquisition of relevant skills. It is currently being redeveloped through an innovative and exciting response to the national initiative Excellence and Enjoyment. The school’s approach to the planning of the areas of learning for the Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 has smoothed transition successfully without losing sight of the essential key skills of a range of subjects; for example, historical enquiry and investigative science. Provision for those with learning difficulties is good. The school’s work in the development of social and emotional attitudes to learning has had a strong influence on the growing understanding and maturity of pupils. A well enriched curriculum provides more opportunities than is usual in infant schools; for example, music clubs, sporting opportunities, visits out of school and visitors into

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Grade: 2

Pupils are well cared for in a happy and safe environment. Safeguarding checks meet current national requirements. Child protection and all other systems to safeguard pupils’ health, safety and well-being are in place. Relationships between pupils and adults are good and the school makes sure that pupils feel safe and secure. They know there is always someone to help them with any worries or concerns they might have. Staff have a good and sensitive knowledge of pupils and their families. Parents agree that there is a good working relationship between home and school, which has a beneficial impact on learning. Pupils with learning and behavioural difficulties are well supported by all staff, enabling these pupils to be fully included in all activities and make good progress towards their targets. The tracking of pupils’ progress is in a transitional stage at present. Meanwhile, the information gathered through the school’s

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Grade: 2

current system is used well to provide extra support as necessary.

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Grade: 2

Leadership and management are good. The talents and skills of staff are well harnessed through the headteacher’s vision and sense of purpose. Effective strategies are in place to manage the school. The school is at an exciting stage of developing the leadership skills of those with management responsibilities. This is particularly evident in the work of the senior management team and those with responsibility for managing curriculum subjects. These developments are leading to a more stimulating curriculum. This well-managed school takes a reflective and thoughtful approach to its work, as shown in its provision and the above average standards achieved. Strategies for review, evaluation and development and for monitoring the school’s performance are effective tools for moving the school forward. Leaders and managers ensure that equal 4 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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Grade: 2

opportunities are good. A wealth of opportunities is provided with particular sensitivity shown towards girls’ needs, in a school with many more boys than girls, and towards children who are more reticent than others. 5 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007 .

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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: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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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?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The behaviour of learners 2 The attendance of learners 2 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 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: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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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: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Market Weighton Infant School Princess Road Market Weighton York North Yorkshire YO43 3EY 17 January 2007 Dear Children Thank you for the friendly welcome to your school during our recent visit. It was a great pleasure to be able to speak to so many of you and to listen to what you had to say. You certainly enjoy your school and you are right to do so because your teachers find such interesting things for you to do. Your lessons are often very exciting and I would have loved to have gone on the virtual reality day trip to Africa with Year 2. You are achieving well. That means you work hard and make good progress, especially in literacy and numeracy lessons, but also in other areas such as music and physical activities. We really enjoyed your singing. We were told about your exciting work in helping to design the park in town. One thing that helps towards the good work you do is that you attend school regularly and on time. We particularly

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

like the little bits of humour between you and your teachers. That helps you to enjoy each other’s company and make life in school very pleasant. We saw many good things in your school. You already work hard but we think that some of you who are capable of attaining higher standards could do harder work in lessons. We think you and your school are doing well. You told us how much you enjoy school and feel happy and safe. Keep up the good work. Yours sincerely Geoff Cooper Lead inspector 9 Inspection Report: Market Weighton Infant School, 17 °18 January 2007

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