Holland Moor Primary School

Holland Moor Primary School Inspection report

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119323 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 313257 Inspection number 30 April °1 May 2008 Inspection dates Ann Wallis 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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Primary Type of school Community School category 3 °11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 360 School The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Debbie Dudley Chair Mr Michael Beale Headteacher 1 June 2005 Date of previous school inspection Cornbrook School address Skelmersdale Lancashire WN8 9AG 01695 725062 Telephone number 01695 559304 Fax number

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3-11 Age group 30 April °1 May 2008 Inspection dates 313257 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 three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

Holland Moor is a much larger than average school with nursery provision and it serves an area of high deprivation. An above average proportion of pupils have learning difficulties and/or disabilities and a well above average proportion have a statement of special educational need. Most pupils are of White British heritage and very few speak English as an additional language. An above average percentage of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Six pupils attend a school-based special education resource facility for pupils with speech and language difficulties.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 3 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008

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Grade: 1

Holland Moor is an outstanding school. All pupils are valued as individuals and receive excellent care, guidance and support to help them achieve their best, especially those who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The highly committed and talented staff work as a well-integrated team to achieve the school’s aim of ‘bringing out the best in every child’. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school. They used the words ‘fantastic’, ‘brilliant’, ‘superb’ and ‘wonderful’ time and time again to describe the work of the school and its staff. The curriculum has an outstanding depth and richness especially in its provision for dance, music, art and sport. Striking features of the school include the beautiful sculpture park in the grounds, the high quality artwork on the walls and the sound of lively music which accompanies the pupils’ excellent dance routines. Standards are above average and achievement is outstanding. From below and often well below

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Grade: 1

average starting points when they enter the Nursery pupils make excellent progress to be on track to reach above average standards when they leave school at the end of Year 6. Pupils achieve so very well because teaching is outstanding. Teachers have very high expectations of their pupils and manage their classes exceptionally well. Pupils never have time to become restless because lessons are extremely interesting and fast paced. Work is marked very thoroughly and excellent use is made of assessment information to identify any pupils who need extra help and plan their future learning. The high quality care, guidance and support that the school promotes result in outstanding personal development for all pupils. Ensuring that all pupils are happy, healthy, safe and achieving their best is at the very heart of the school’s work. The academic guidance pupils receive is excellent so they are very clear about how to work towards the challenging targets

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Grade: 1

the school sets for them. Pupils, particularly the most vulnerable, respond outstandingly well to the calm, caring, safe and supportive atmosphere in the school. Their behaviour is exemplary. They clearly know right from wrong, are very keen to take on responsibilities within their own community and are very sensitive to the feelings of others. They understand well how to stay safe and healthy and really enjoy taking regular exercise by participating in the very wide range of sporting opportunities that the school offers. Leadership and management of the school are outstanding. The very experienced headteacher inspires his staff to provide the best possible education for every child. He is relentless in seeking funds to provide a very high quality learning environment and skilled in appointing and nurturing talented staff who use challenging targets to ensure all pupils achieve the very best they can. All staff continually strive to improve further and given their track record of

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Grade: 1

improvement since the previous inspection have demonstrated ample capacity to do so. The school’s excellent links with partners both enrich the curriculum and ensure there is the very best support for all pupils, whatever their special needs. Governors are very supportive of the school and, like parents and pupils, recognise its outstanding qualities. The school provides outstanding value for money.

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Grade: 2

Provision in the Foundation Stage is good. Children enjoy school and work and play together well. Attainment on entry is below and often well below that most frequently found for children 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008 of the same age nationally. As a result of good teaching, achievement and progress are good. By the time they leave the Reception class a few children are reaching the level expected for their age but most remain below this. Progress is best in the areas of personal, social and emotional development and in communication, language and literacy skills. Leadership and management of the curriculum, the attractive environment for learning and the involvement of parents are good. All adults have a good understanding of all the required areas of learning and of how young children learn. Teachers maintain records of children’s development in practical ways so that work is matched to individual needs. Strategies introduced this year to

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Grade: 2

further develop the effectiveness of the Foundation Stage are working well and are bringing about the planned improvements. However, despite the school’s efforts to promote children’s independence, many of them remain too reliant on direction by adults.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Increase the opportunities for children in the Foundation Stage to take responsibility for their own learning.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ overall achievement across the school is outstanding so that by Year 6 they have reached above average standards. Pupils enter Year 1 with standards below those expected for their age. Current pupils of all abilities are making at least good and often outstanding progress to reach broadly average and sometimes above average standards as they near the end of Year 2. Key Stage 1 assessments were broadly average in 2007 although they have been higher in previous years. The school recognises that these assessments have been over generous in the past, leading to insecure comparisons with achievement in other schools nationally at the end of Year 6. Excellent systems have now been put in place to ensure that assessments in Years 1 and 2 are accurate. From these more realistic starting points pupils’ progress and achievement in Key Stage 2 can be measured with greater precision. Pupils build upon their excellent start in Key Stage 1 and continue to make outstanding progress

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Grade: 1

as they move through the school. The school’s detailed monitoring of pupils’ progress indicates that the current Year 6 are on track to reach above average standards in national tests this year. Inspection evidence confirms the school’s assessment. All groups of pupils achieve well. The well above average numbers of pupils with statements of special educational need achieve exceptionally well because of the excellent support they receive from teachers and teaching assistants.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development and well-being are outstanding. All pupils develop very well as mature and confident learners. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Pupils readily explain what they know and understand about the traditions and cultures of people of diverse ethnic heritage. Older pupils act as very good role models for younger children. They willingly accept responsibilities for tasks around school including serving as playground buddies. They know very well the need to be truthful and trustworthy. Pupils thoroughly enjoy coming to school, showing really positive attitudes to work and play. Behaviour 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008 in lessons and around the school is excellent. Attendance is close to the national average and is improving due to the school’s exhaustive and innovative efforts to encourage all pupils to

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Grade: 1

come to school regularly. Pupils are emphatic that they feel safe in school. They are confident that their feelings are always respected and that any hint of bullying will be dealt with effectively. They understand why a healthy diet helps them to grow and learn. With well developed skills and excellent attitudes to learning, pupils are in a good position to get the most out of their life in the next phase of education and beyond.

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Grade: 1

The key strengths in teaching are high expectations, very well managed classes and high quality relationships with the pupils. Pupils enjoy lessons because of the well structured sequence of activities which makes lessons come alive. Excellent use is made of assessment information about pupils’ progress, and there are some very good examples of teachers using marking to provide pointers for improvement. They involve pupils’ skilfully in setting challenging targets for improvement and ensure the tasks they are asked to do are suited very well to their needs. Teachers’ quick-fire questioning keeps pupils on their toes and learning is highly effective, particularly in Years 2 and 6. Very good use is made of teachers’ specific skills, for example to enhance pupils’ learning experiences in music and dance. Every opportunity is taken to use information and communication technology (ICT) effectively to support the work pupils are

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Grade: 1

asked to do. Teaching assistants provide very good support and ensure that pupils, especially those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, make exceptional progress.

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Grade: 1

The curriculum is outstanding and careful planning for individual learners ensures that it is extremely well matched to the needs of all pupils. The staff use very varied and imaginative resources to support pupils’ personal development. Provision for the above average numbers of pupils with a statement of special educational need is excellent. It is also outstanding for pupils in the special educational resource facility who have speech and language difficulties. Pupils are well prepared for their futures because they develop good basic skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT and clearly understand the importance of teamwork. Provision for dance, music, art and sport are outstanding, leading to the national Artsmark and Activemark awards. The outstanding and diverse opportunities offered and enthusiastically taken up by pupils through clubs range from doing Tai Chai to playing the ukulele and learning Spanish. The

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Grade: 1

curriculum is very flexible and is reviewed regularly to take advantage of new learning ideas and to meet the needs of current pupils. All statutory requirements are met.

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Grade: 1

The care, guidance and support for all children, especially the most vulnerable, are outstanding. The teaching and support staff know pupils extremely well and are dedicated to meeting their needs. All required safeguarding arrangements, and procedures for child protection and health and safety are in place. When pupils transfer to local secondary schools, transition arrangements are managed very well. The school has excellent working links with other schools, the local 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008 authority and other agencies such as those supporting pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Pupils receive high quality academic guidance. Those who are at risk of underachieving are provided with rapid and very well targeted intervention and support. There are very good challenges for those pupils capable of attaining higher academic levels or with

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Grade: 1

specific talents to excel, for example, in dance or art.

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Grade: 1

Leadership and management are outstanding. Under the excellent leadership of the headteacher, all staff feel valued and are exceptionally loyal to the school. Morale is remarkably high. Leaders and managers at all levels carry out their roles exceptionally well and play an important part in determining the strategic direction of the school. New systems to ensure consistency in assessing pupils’ work, to track their progress and to intervene in their learning when needed are robust and are proving very effective in raising standards. Self-evaluation is both rigorous and perceptive so the school knows itself well. Governors are very supportive of the school. Teaching and learning are monitored regularly and the marking of pupils’ work and teachers’ planning is very carefully checked. There is absolutely no sense of complacency at Holland Moor which is why it is so well placed to improve further. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008

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Grade: 1

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 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 1 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 3 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?

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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

2 May 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Holland Moor Primary School, Lancashire, WN8 9AG Thank you so much for the very warm welcome you gave us when we visited your school last week. We were really impressed with the confident and enthusiastic way you talked about all the outstanding things your school provides for you. We loved seeing you enjoying so many interesting lessons and were very impressed with your excellent dance routines and wonderful artwork. This is what we have said about your school in our report.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Holland Moor is an outstanding school and it is led and managed exceptionally well.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Your achievement is outstanding and you reach above average standards by Year 6.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ You are exceptionally well cared for, guided and supported.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Children in the Nursery and Reception classes make good progress.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Teaching and learning, your personal development and the range of subjects you study are all outstanding. This is what we have asked your school to do to improve learning even more:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ Give younger children more opportunities to learn things for themselves as well as being guided by their teachers. We know that you and your parents really appreciate what an excellent school Holland Moor is. Please continue to attend school regularly and work with your teachers to achieve the very best you can. Yours sincerely Ann Wallis Lead inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Holland Moor Primary School, 30 April °1 May 2008

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