Coleshill Church of England Infant School

Coleshill Church of England Infant School Inspection report

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110426 Unique Reference Number Buckinghamshire Local Authority 310297 Inspection number 13 December 2007 Inspection date John Earish 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 Voluntary controlled School category 4 °7 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 47 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs R Valentine Chair Mrs J Earp Headteacher 19 May 2003 Date of previous school inspection Coleshill School address Amersham HP7 0LQ 01494 727 206 Telephone number 01494 727 206 Fax number

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4-7 Age group 13 December 2007 Inspection date 310297 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 who evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school. The inspector looked particularly at the children's progress and standards as they move through the school, as well as the impact of initiatives taken by school leaders to raise standards and the quality of provision. The inspector met with staff, governors and pupils. Parts of some lessons were observed, parents' questionnaires and a sample of pupils' work were examined and school information, including self-evaluation, was scrutinised. 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, as given in its self-evaluation, were not justified, and these have been included where appropriate in the report.

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Description of the school

This very small infant school is situated in an attractive, rural commuter village near Amersham. About a quarter of the pupils live in the catchment area, with the remainder coming from much further afield. Most pupils are of White British heritage with a very small number from different minority ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties is well below that found nationally. The school was awarded the 'Active and Sportsmark' in 2007.

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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: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 2007

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school in all respects. On crossing the threshold of Coleshill, one is instantly struck by the exciting and vibrant learning environment where each child is made to feel very special. Throughout the school, there is a determined and persistent focus on raising pupils' achievement among all members of the staff team. The parents are overwhelmingly positive on all aspects of the school's provision. One summed up the views of a great many in saying, 'This is a wonderful school led by a fantastic headteacher and team of staff...and I challenge you to find fault!' Of greatest significance is the combination of high quality teaching, leadership and care, pupils' eagerness to learn and the support given by their parents. When children start school, their skills and abilities are above those expected of four year olds. From their very good start in the Foundation Stage, they make rapid progress and attain high standards in the national tests in

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Grade: 1

Year 2. Their very good key skills in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology prepare them exceedingly well for later life and learning. Parents recognise this and describe how their children 'learn in a warm, friendly environment' and 'develop to their best potential'. All groups of pupils achieve extremely well because the teaching is of outstanding quality. Relationships are exemplary and, as a result, pupils work hard and learn at a very good rate. Learning objectives are very clear and build on what has gone before, taking very good account of pupils' differing needs. Learning is particularly effective because teachers give pupils very good opportunities to learn independently and use their initiative. This very effective provision has earned the school the Challenge Award for Excellence in whole-school provision for gifted and talented pupils. Pupils are very clear about what they are to learn and settle quickly to

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Grade: 1

individual and cooperative tasks as the occasion demands. However, success in national tests has not been achieved at the expense of the wider curriculum. Parents describe how the school is a 'hub of learning, enjoyment and experience' and 'the curriculum is broad and varied'. Pupils talk enthusiastically about all the many exciting things they do and learn at school and beyond. As one six year old explained, 'We recently visited the busy trading room of an Amersham finance company. We were learning about exchanging money. They gave each of us five Euros and we had to guess how much it would be worth in Sterling on Friday afternoon. This was a really good way to find out how money works'. These imaginative links between subjects make learning practical, relevant, challenging and exciting. Personal development is excellent because the care, support and guidance provided by the school are outstanding. Adults are highly effective at tracking and supporting the pupils'

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Grade: 1

personal and academic progress so they can achieve well. Pupils behave exceptionally well and develop an excellent awareness of and commitment to personal safety and healthy, active lifestyles. Pupils treat each other with respect and willingly respond to opportunities to accept responsibility. As a result, they feel happy and secure and become confident, independent learners. Outstanding leadership and management ensure rigorous and accurate evaluation of every aspect of the school's performance leading to considered and effective action. Teamwork is very strong with consultation, collaboration and partnership as watchwords that cement the very strong bonds between all members of the school community. Teachers, pupils, parents and governors all share a common sense of purpose and direction. Links with a wide range of 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 2007

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Grade: 1

agencies ensure the best possible support to promote pupils' academic and personal well-being. It is this drive for further development through well-targeted actions, on top of an exemplary record of accomplishments, which demonstrates the school's outstanding capacity to continue improving. The school has no significant weaknesses and the leaders have outlined the areas it intends to develop in its improvement plan. Amongst these priorities, the school is exploring ways of developing pupils' skills at using video and digital imaging to make learning across the curriculum even more exciting and challenging. They are very well placed to achieve this aim.

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Grade: 1

Children get off to an excellent start the Reception class. One parent describes it as having 'a unique atmosphere for these very young children...which is homely but disciplined'. Reception, like the rest of the school, is a busy hive of purposeful activity and children's social development is particularly impressive as they learn to play and work together. Parents especially value this. One described how her 'previously unhappy toddler is now confident, so happy, sociable...and his behaviour at home is dramatically different...for the better.' By the end of the Reception year, almost all attain and the vast majority exceed the early learning goals expected for their age. Children do well because they benefit from excellent teaching and support.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Improve the pupils' skills at using video and digital imaging to enhance their learning across the curriculum by completing plans already underway. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 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: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 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 1 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: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 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: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 2007

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

20 December 2007 Dear Pupils Inspection of Coleshill Church of England Infant School,Amersham,HP7 0LQ Thank you for being so welcoming and helpful when I came to inspect your school. I was very impressed with your friendliness and your sensible and helpful attitudes towards each other. Many of you, and your parents, told me how much you enjoy school and that you feel you are doing well. I agree. I think your school is outstanding and here are some of the many reasons why.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Children in the Reception class settle in quickly and make a very good start because everyone is so friendly and helpful. They enjoy the many interesting and challenging activities that are organised for them. ■ You make excellent progress in your work because you are thoughtful and work very hard in lessons. You help and support each other in all that you do. ■ You are able to learn in a very friendly and caring school. Your behaviour is excellent and you get on very well with each other. ■ You listen very carefully to what your teachers have to say and try very hard in your lessons.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your teachers spend a lot of time looking at what you have done in class and working out how to help you to make your work even better. One of the hardest jobs when a school is outstanding is to make sure that it keeps on doing well. I know that you will want to help your teachers achieve this by doing your best at all times. Your teachers want your school to get even better and you will know that they want you to use the video and digital cameras even more than you already do. This is really exciting and I am pleased that your teachers are going to find even more ways of helping you to use them in lots of subjects. I am sure that you are ready for this challenge! I know that you will continue to work hard and I am sure that you will help your teachers to make your school even better. Yours sincerely, John Earish Lead Inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Coleshill Church of England Infant School, 13 December 2007

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