Rosegrove Infant School

Rosegrove Infant School Inspection report

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119258 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 291365 Inspection number 19 September 2007 Inspection date Carole Cressey 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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Infant Type of school Community School category 4 °7 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 132 School The governing body Appropriate authority Federated Governing Body Chair Mrs Angela Barker Headteacher 1 February 2003 Date of previous school inspection Owen Street School address Burnley Lancashire BB12 6HW 01282 424919 Telephone number 01282 424919 Fax number

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4-7 Age group 19 September 2007 Inspection date 291365 Inspection number .

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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

Most pupils come from White British backgrounds. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is well above average, as is that of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The school offers before and after school care. It is federated with Rosegrove Nursery School with which it shares a headteacher. The Inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and investigated progress, achievement and standards; personal development and well-being; and care, guidance and support. Evidence was gathered from the school’s own self-evaluation; nationally produced assessment data; the school’s own assessment records, policies and minutes; observation of the pupils at work; interviews with senior members of staff and pupils; and the parents’ questionnaires. Other aspects of the school’s work were not investigated in detail, but the inspector found no evidence to suggest that the school’s own assessments were not justified

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Description of the school

and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 2007

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school which is exceptionally well led and managed. The headteacher’s passionate commitment, enthusiasm and gritty determination to provide the very best education possible are shared by an excellent leadership team and a very effective governing body. As a result, this school exudes an ethos in which the care, wellbeing, enjoyment and achievement of every pupil are evident in all aspects of its work. The leadership team rigorously monitors the quality of all aspects of the school’s work. This results in outstanding teaching, care, guidance and support which, along with a very innovative curriculum, ensure that each pupil meets or exceeds the very challenging targets set for them. Behaviour and attitudes are exemplary, standards are well above average and pupils are developing a love of learning and an understanding of their responsibility to each other and to the wider local and world

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Grade: 1

community. The fact that a significantly high number of children enter the school with standards which are well below those expected for their ages, especially in literacy and personal development, does not deter this school from expecting and getting the very best from every single child, whatever their background. Progress is rapid in the Reception class and, by the time children move into Year 1, the majority are reaching the learning goals expected for their ages. This excellent start is built on in Years 1 and 2 and progress for all pupils continues to accelerate. All pupils, including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, work very hard and achieve exceptionally well. In national tests and assessments at the end of Year 2, standards have consistently been significantly above average. The latest results for 2007 indicate that overall standards are above those of previous years. The school’s own rigorous data indicate that the present Year 2 pupils

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Grade: 1

are likely to reach standards which are even higher. Almost every pupil is reaching the expected level for their ages in reading, writing, mathematics and science and over a third are reaching the higher levels. The outstanding way the school nurtures those pupils with complex difficulties and/or disabilities is second-to-none and, as a result, they make excellent progress towards their targets and often reach the expected level for their ages. Through regular and rigorous assessments, observations and evaluations, teachers and senior managers quickly identify if pupils are making the progress of which they are capable. Innovative strategies provide extra support for those pupils who appear to be falling behind or for those who are learning at much a faster rate. This support can be in the form of lunchtime clubs such as the home reading club, which ensures certain pupils keep up with their classmates, the ‘Five Musketeers’ club, which helps boys

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Grade: 1

become better writers, or the science investigators and games clubs for pupils who are especially gifted, able or talented. Throughout the school, literacy, numeracy and ICT make a vital contribution to pupils’ future role in society and their economic well-being. An excellent programme of social and health education provides the pupils with the necessary tools to develop personal safety, care and healthy living. Even the youngest child knows that ‘walking’ in school is the best way to avoid accidents and that ‘running’ across the road ‘might get you run over’. The excellent climate for learning ensures that pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Pupils are learning to be proud of themselves and to be kind and friendly to each other. Through very well planned visits and 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 2007

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Grade: 1

visitors, pupils are developing a very good understanding of the many different cultures and faiths in their town. Parents have complete confidence in their children’s school. They value the breakfast and after school clubs as well as the teaching and learning. This comment is typical of most: ‘I cannot praise the school highly enough. The headteacher and staff are exceptionally supportive, my child’s development and confidence has blossomed since starting school. I cannot recommend Rosegrove highly enough.’ The school judges itself as outstanding and the inspection agrees. The school has made excellent progress since the previous inspection; it gives excellent value for money. The federation with Rosegrove Nursery is strengthening the overall provision and ensuring the school is exceptionally well placed to continue to be very successful.

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Grade: 1

The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage is outstanding. The exceptionally high quality of the leadership and management ensures that the Reception classes are wonderful places to learn. The children make remarkable gains in their personal qualities and quickly adjust to school routines because learning is such fun. This is evident from the children’s eagerness as they come into school and by the number of parents who say how quickly their children settle and how some of them cry when it is not a school day! A wide range of exciting, high quality resources and activities challenge the children and inspire them to learn. Children are encouraged to become independent and successful learners, and this is a key factor in their rapid progress towards the expected learning goals. Staff use the information from observations to pinpoint each child's progress and carefully identify the next steps in learning. Well matched and

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Grade: 1

challenging work brings relevance and enjoyment to learning. Wherever possible, children handle real materials and staff are always on hand to extend children’s knowledge and understanding. Staff ensure that the indoor and outdoor environments support and extend children's spontaneous play and language development. Even a wet and windy day did not deter new children from donning ponchos and putting up umbrellas to explore the outdoor areas. Basic skills of reading, writing and numeracy are woven very imaginatively into every task and, as a result, children are well launched into reading, writing and number by the time they move into Year 1.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ There are no significant areas for improvement. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 2007 .

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What the school should do to improve further

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 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? Yes Effective steps have been taken to promote improvement since the last inspection How well does the school work in partnership with others to promote learners' well-being? 1 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 1 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

1 How well do learners achieve? 1 The standards 1 reached by learners How well learners make progress, taking account of any significant variations between groups of learners 1 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 extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 How well learners enjoy their education 2 The attendance of learners 1 The behaviour of learners 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 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 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 1 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 1 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 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 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

20 September 2007 Dear Children Inspection of Rosegrove Infant School, Lancashire, BB12 6HW I really enjoyed visiting your school. Thank you for talking to me and being so friendly. You told me that school is fun and that the teachers really help you to learn such a lot. Well, I agree with you. Your teachers are brilliant. They are always thinking of new and exciting things for you to do so that you all become really clever. You are learning to be good readers and writers and to do exciting things with numbers. I especially liked the ‘doubling song’ and would love to be a member of the ‘Five Musketeers’ writing club. It was so good to see how very kind you are to each other and how you share your toys and play together really well. I can tell that you enjoy coming to school and your mums and dads tell me that many of you cry when you can’t come to school. This shows just how much you enjoy learning about new

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

things. You go to an excellent school. Do remember to always work really hard and learn lots and lots of new and exciting things. I hope you will continue to enjoy school as much as you do now and that it will help you to become happy and successful adults. Yours sincerely Carole Cressey Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Rosegrove Infant School, 19 September 2007

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