Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School

Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School Inspection report

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117374 Unique Reference Number HERTFORDSHIRE LA Local Authority 312592 Inspection number 14 January 2008 Inspection date Jackie Cousins 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 238 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Angela Basit Chair Miss Pam Scragg Headteacher 29 September 2003 Date of previous school inspection Nascot Wood Road School address Watford Hertfordshire WD17 4YT 01923239653 Telephone number 01923239100 Fax number

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3-7 Age group 14 January 2008 Inspection date 312592 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 one Additional Inspector.

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Description of the school

This is an average sized infant and Nursery school. Most pupils are from White British backgrounds and a significant proportion are from minority ethnic groups. The proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities or who have a statement of special educational need is below the national average. A significant minority of pupils are in the early stages of learning to speak English as an additional language. The school has the National Healthy Schools Award and Investors in People Award. The inspector evaluated the overall effectiveness of the school and focused in on the following issues:

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Description of the school

■ the changes to the levels of knowledge and understanding that pupils start school with

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Description of the school

■ the quality of support for pupils who speak English as an additional language

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Description of the school

■ pupils' personal development and their understanding of personal targets

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Description of the school

■ school leaders' use of monitoring data on the progress and attainment of minority ethnic pupils. Evidence was gathered from discussions with the headteacher, senior leadership team, subject leaders, teachers, pupils and the Chair of the governors, observations of teaching, an analysis of school data on standards and progress, and parents' questionnaires.

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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: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 2008

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Grade: 2

Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery is a good school and gives effective value for money. The pupils get a super start to their education from Nursery to Year 2. Pupils of all abilities settle quickly into school life. This is because a good partnership is in place between the school staff and parents. One parent summed it up when she said, 'I feel the school provides a welcoming, safe and very stimulating environment which my children love.' Virtually all parents who responded to the questionnaire were really pleased with the school and the progress their child is making. Pupils' personal development is a terrific strength of the school and is outstanding. This is because all staff give pupils a committed and effective level of care, guidance and support. Pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. They learn to reflect about their own and other's feelings extremely well. For example, pupils explained how it would feel

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Grade: 2

to be homeless. This is because visitors are used successfully to allow them to understand different people's situations. Pupils' understanding of our multicultural society is good. They talked in depth about the festival of Divali and the symbolism of the Divas. The school council assists all pupils to offer ideas about how to make the school even better. Pupils behave well in lessons and at break times. They have positive attitudes to learning and attendance is above average. They adopt healthy lifestyles because the school encourages them to eat well and take regular exercise. Personal, social and health education sessions enable pupils to learn extremely well about how to keep themselves safe inside and outside school. The staff work carefully to safeguard pupils and procedures meet legal requirements. The school's leadership places enormous importance on maintaining high standards. This means

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Grade: 2

that attainment in 2007 was exceptionally high in Year 2. The school sets and has met challenging targets. Over the last four years, consistently high standards have been maintained. In assessments made in 2007 nearly half the Year 2 pupils were working at standards normally expected of nine-year-olds. Even though these pupils started school with levels of knowledge and understanding that were above those normally expected for their age, their achievement was good. However, the school has seen significant changes to pupils' levels of attainment when they start at school, which for the present Year 2 were slightly below national expectations. Nevertheless they have made good progress. Their current attainment is significantly above that normally expected for their age and they are extremely well prepared for the next stage of education. The key to the school's success is its use of a detailed system to track pupils' attainment and

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Grade: 2

progress. Every term 'Progress Meetings' are held between senior leaders and the class teacher. A thorough discussion about pupils who seem to be under or over achieving occurs to determine what extra support would be valuable. The progress that pupils from minority ethnic groups make is carefully monitored and they achieve successfully. A considerable amount of small group work assists pupils to make good progress in reading, writing and mathematics. Effective support for those pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities allows them to achieve well. The good use of individual education plans mean that these pupils work towards specific and measurable targets. Good teaching is a major contributor to pupils' effective growth in their learning. Teachers expect a great deal from pupils and they explain complex areas carefully. Pupils' basic skills develop effectively, because teachers clarify knowledgably how to structure and set out work.

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Grade: 2

4 of 9 Inspection Report: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 2008 Teachers question pupils well, so that they learn to think deeply about what they study and evaluate results to good purpose. Pupils who are learning to speak English as an additional language are well supported and generally achieve well. However, individual language plans for these pupils are not in use and, as a result, not all staff or parents are fully aware of how best to help them. A significant improvement since the last inspection is the quality of assessment in all subjects. Use of assessment supports learning well. Teachers' marking often tells pupils what they need to do to improve and teachers assess some work together with them. As a result, most pupils understand levels of attainment. However, while pupils receive personal targets in writing and mathematics, they are not always clear about how to achieve

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Grade: 2

them. Pupils' enjoyment of the many exciting activities planned for them is outstanding. This is because a rich and effective curriculum is in use. Pupils talked enthusiastically about many things that they do at school. They say they really like the topic work, art, writing and mathematics. Displays around the school celebrate pupils' high quality creative and artistic skills. Pupils have good opportunities to use information and communication technology. Teachers are further refining their planning, so it creates more projects that develop several types of skills at the same time. Good leadership and management have brought about effective improvements since the last inspection. The school has enriched pupils' days with greater use of specialist teaching in religious education and music. The headteacher's excellent leadership means that the school's self-evaluation is very rigorous. Provision for gifted and talented pupils is good and, because

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Grade: 2

leaders are always looking for ways to improve the school, they aim to make provision for these pupils even stronger. Governance is good and includes successful work to develop the way that complaints are handled. The school is in a good position to continue to improve in the future.

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Grade: 2

Children make good progress because teaching is effective and uses practical methods well. Activities keep children interested and consistently allow them to develop independence. Children develop basic literacy, numeracy and personal skills well and these equip them effectively for the next stage of education. However, planning for the outside area is not fully developed, so staff do not always have effective guidance about what pupils will be learning. Children behave well and learn to cooperate effectively because of staff support and management skills. Parents find out regularly about their child's progress.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Develop the use of individual language plans for pupils who are learning to speak English as an additional language. ■ Improve the use of pupils' personal targets so that they are clearer about how to be successful and attain them. 5 of 9 Inspection Report: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 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: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 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

2 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 2 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 2 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 2 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: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 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: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

14 January 2008 Dear Children Inspection of Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, Watford WD17 4YT Thank you for helping me to find out about your school. I enjoyed watching lessons and talking to you. It was interesting to talk to your teachers and join an assembly. I really enjoyed your singing. You are lucky to attend such a happy and friendly school. Good things about your school include the facts that:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ you gain very high standards in Year 2

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ you think very deeply about your feelings and respect others thoughtfully

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ you work hard in lessons and behave well

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ you thoroughly enjoy lessons and are keen to come to school

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ your headteacher has really effective ideas about ways to improve the school

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ teaching is good and your teachers work hard to make lessons interesting

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ a good partnership is in place between the school and parents

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I have asked your school to look at how they can make things even better. I hope that you will help teachers by listening to them carefully. The most important things are:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ sharing individual plans of work more effectively for children who are learning to speak English as an additional language ■ making sure that you know how to be successful and meet your personal targets.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

Keep working hard at Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School. Jackie Cousins Lead inspector 9 of 9 Inspection Report: Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School, 14 January 2008

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