Unstone St Mary's Nursery & Infant School

Unstone St Mary's Infant School Inspection report

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112643 Unique Reference Number Derbyshire Local Authority 310962 Inspection number 22 May 2008 Inspection date Sheelagh Barnes 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 3 °7 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 55 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mr John Aldington Chair Mrs Stefanie Creer Headteacher 14 June 2005 Date of previous school inspection Crow Lane School address Unstone Derbyshire S18 4AL 01246 412096 Telephone number 01246 412096 Fax number

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3-7 Age group 22 May 2008 Inspection date 310962 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 and investigated the following issues:

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Introduction

■ Current achievement of boys and girls across the school, the quality of teaching and learning and leadership and management that lead to this. ■ Pupils' personal development.

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Introduction

■ How effective school is in providing pupils with information about what they need to do to improve their work. Evidence was gathered from observing lessons, scrutiny of pupils' work and the school's documentation, discussions with pupils and staff, and noting communications from parents. 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 its self-evaluation, were not justified. These have been included where appropriate in this report.

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Description of the school

St Mary's School is smaller than average. An above average proportion of pupils is eligible for free school meals. The great majority of pupils come from White British backgrounds and speak English at home. The proportion of pupils who need extra support with their learning is fewer than nationally, but a higher proportion than average have a statement of special educational need. Standards on entry fluctuate slightly due to the small size of individual year groups, but are overall below those expected for children's ages. The school has a number of awards including Basic Skills, Healthy Schools, Walking to School, two Eco Awards, Artsmark, a School Achievement Award and the Activemark.

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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: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008

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Grade: 1

The leadership and management of the school are excellent. The headteacher has a very accurate view of the school's strengths and areas for improvement. She bases her information on a rigorous system of monitoring and assessment. She is, however, reluctant to assess the school's overall effectiveness as excellent, which is how the inspection finds it. This is because she is aware that 'things can always be improved'. The staff, together with a committed, knowledgeable governing body, support her extremely well. Leaders and managers use data effectively to analyse trends across the school and to put action in place to improve standards further. This has been the case especially in reading and mathematics, where standards have risen significantly in recent years. The determination of all involved has brought about a good level of improvement since the previous inspection and the school has a good capacity to take this further. The school

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Grade: 1

provides excellent value for money and the staff prepare pupils well for the next stage in their education. Teachers also use assessment information effectively and their detailed knowledge of each child means that lesson planning meets the needs of individuals and groups. Teaching is excellent. It is never less than good and lessons are interesting to boys and girls equally. All staff have successfully introduced developments to raise standards in mathematics and involve parents in helping their children to read. Links with parents, other schools and agencies are extremely good and have a very positive impact on pupils' progress, which is excellent, and especially so in reading and mathematics. Teaching assistants make a significant contribution to this success. As well as providing good support in lessons, they liaise effectively with parents. Despite the school's small size and consequent fluctuations in attainment on entry, pupils

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Grade: 1

consistently attain standards above those normally expected by the end of Year 2. In writing, however, while standards attained are above average and progress is good, it is more variable. The headteacher and staff recognise this and are currently working on further improvements. Care, guidance and support are good overall. All statutory requirements are met, including those for health and safety, child protection and provision for vulnerable pupils. The school makes extremely good use of outside agencies and links, such as with parents and medical practitioners, in providing for pupils who need extra support with their learning. All pupils who need extra help are integrated fully into all aspects of school life. The staff have worked hard to develop the guidance they give to pupils and to involve them more actively in understanding what they need to do to learn. For example, the point of each lesson is explained to the class

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Grade: 1

before work starts. In addition, teachers are working on ways of involving pupils in making decisions about what to do to improve performances in literacy and mathematics. Some younger pupils are already operating this way confidently. However, it is not yet the case throughout the school, where more work remains to be done. Teachers work hard and have good relationships with pupils and other staff. They have consistently high expectations of pupils' behaviour and, as a result, pupils behave outstandingly well at all times. Pupils pay attention and concentrate well in lessons. They enjoy school hugely and are keen to attend. Attendance is good. Pupils' personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development are excellent. Teachers prepare pupils exceptionally well in terms of their awareness of ecological issues. It encourages walking to school and taking care of the environment. Pupils also have excellent opportunities to take responsibility, such as Year 2 learning to teach games

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Grade: 1

to younger children at playtimes. Pupils contribute well to the wider community. They adopt healthy and safely practices extremely well. Information to parents is good and the headteacher 4 of 9 Inspection Report: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008 and governors seek parents' opinions frequently. Parents are pleased with the school. Comments such as, 'staff are always willing to discuss our child's progress' and 'our child enjoys going to school and all aspects of school life' are typical of what they say. The curriculum is good. It covers all of the required subjects in suitable depth with an appropriately strong emphasis on developing literacy and numeracy skills. Pupils' writing skills are not always developed fully in projects. Good use is made of information and communication technology to support learning. There is a very good emphasis on teaching pupils how to stay healthy and safe, and providing regular opportunities for physical development. A good range

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Grade: 1

of interesting and exciting clubs such as Spanish, sport and ballet provide further exciting opportunities.

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Grade: 2

The leadership and management of the Foundation Stage is good. It has led to good improvement since the previous inspection. The school has significantly developed the curriculum for outdoor learning within the limited space available. It plans to use information gathered from assessments of what children know to develop activities and learning in line with new government requirements. Standards on entry to the Nursery are often below those usually found at that point. Children settle happily into the Nursery and Reception classes because of good induction procedures. Progress is good due to the good quality of teaching. Teachers and support staff establish good relationships with the children and their families. Parents are confident that their children are looked after well and are effectively involved in their children's education. Routines and expectations of behaviour are quickly established. As a result, children

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Grade: 2

are happy and know what is expected of them. Their personal, social and emotional development are good. Children who need extra support for physical or academic reasons are swiftly identified and given help. The impact of such intervention is then tracked carefully until the problem is resolved.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Maintain its focus on writing, so standards continue to rise.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Complete its work on involving pupils in deciding what to do next to improve. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008 .

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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: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008

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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? 2 The effectiveness of the Foundation Stage 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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Achievement and standards

1 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 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 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 of 9 Inspection Report: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008

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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: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

23 May 2008 Dear Children, Inspection of St Mary's Infant School, Unstone, S18 4AL Thank you for being so friendly and telling me all about your school when I visited this week. This is to tell you what I found out about your school.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You like coming to school, behave extremely well and work hard.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You concentrate hard on your work in the classroom and outside.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your teachers teach you exceptionally well so that you make outstanding progress especially with your reading and mathematics. ■ You are taught a lot of interesting and exciting things and have good opportunities to go on trips and visits. ■ Your teachers and parents work together very well to help you.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You learn a lot about staying safe and are taught extremely well about keeping healthy and making healthy choices of what to eat and drink. ■ You learn a great deal about the environment and being responsible in what you do.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your headteacher works very hard and knows a lot about just how well each one of you is getting on. The things I have asked your school to do next are:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Help you to improve your writing even more.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Help you to know what to do next to make your work even better.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

You can help by trying your hardest at all times. Thank you again and I wish you all well. Yours sincerely Mrs Barnes Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Unstone St Mary's Infant School, 22 May 2008

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