Setting

Mr B Woodhead Headteacher Hoylandswaine Primary School Haigh Lane Hoylandswaine Sheffield S36 7JJ

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Thank you for the help which you, your staff and the chair of governors gave when I inspected your school on 18 March 2008, for the time you gave to our phone discussions and for the information which you provided before and during my visit. I am aware that both you and the chair of governors were new to your posts at the time of the previous inspection.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

As a result of the inspection in September 2006, the school was asked to:

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

 ensure the work of the school is thoroughly evaluated and coordinated leading to a more uniform approach to planning and to higher standards in subjects other than English, mathematics and science  ensure resources support the learning in information and communication technology (ICT) to develop pupils’ skills  introduce assessment strategies that monitor and support pupils’ progress across the whole school  ensure all pupils identified with learning difficulties and/or disabilities receive clear targets that support the development of their learning.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

In addition, the inspection found that procedures for safeguarding pupils were not all up to date.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

Having considered all the evidence I am of the opinion that, at this time, the school is making satisfactory progress in addressing the issues for improvement and in raising the pupils’ achievement.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The previous inspection judged that pupils’ achievement was good and that standards were above average. This continues to be the case. Procedures for safeguarding pupils are now up to date. Thorough checks have been carried out to CfBT Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 08456 404050 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566932 Direct F 01695 729320 hcarnall@cfbt.com confirm the suitability of all adults who come into contact with the pupils. The headteacher and governors give a high priority to keeping pupils safe and they regularly check for risks in school. They are promptly introducing improvements following recent inspections by local authority officers and the fire service.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The headteacher and governors systematically monitor and evaluate the work of the school and they have a clear understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. The school development plan provides good direction for school improvement, although it does not make entirely clear how its effectiveness will be evaluated in terms of improvements in pupils’ achievements. The plan gives high priority to the provision of a broad, rich curriculum, and recent developments in art, music and physical education are enriching pupils’ education. Teachers’ planning for these subjects is beginning to make clear how pupils will make progress in developing their skills: however, the school is aware that this needs further improvement to eradicate the weaknesses identified by the previous inspection. The provision of ICT resources has improved considerably. A new ICT suite and a set of computers in each classroom are used regularly to extend pupils’ learning in many subjects. In some history

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

lessons, pupils make good use of the Internet to carry out personal research, but such effective use is not consistent in all classes.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The school has made a good start in introducing effective strategies for monitoring pupils’ progress. The use of information from these strategies, however, is at an early stage of development. Lesson planning does not always make sufficiently clear how work is adapted to meet the range of needs within the class: few pupils are aware of targets for improving their progress and staff are just beginning to draw up a plan for providing additional support to underachieving pupils. The provision for pupils with a learning difficulty and/or disability is much better developed. The headteacher, in his role as special education needs coordinator, has a detailed understanding of the needs of these pupils, and he ensures that they all have a well- planned programme of support with clear targets.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

The headteacher and chair of governors feel that they have been well supported by the local authority since taking up their posts.

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Ofsted monitoring of Grade 3 schools

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your school.

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