Lostock Hall Community Primary School

Lostock Hall Community Primary School Inspection report

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119159 Unique Reference Number Lancashire Local Authority 321546 Inspection number 12–13 November 2008 Inspection dates Joe Clark Reporting inspector

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This inspection of the school was carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The registered childcare, managed by the governing body, was inspected under section 49 of the Childcare Act 2006.

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Primary Type of school Community School category 3–11 Age range of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils Number on roll 420 School (total) 41 Government funded early education provision for children aged 3 to the end of the EYFS 0 Childcare provision for children aged 0 to 3 years The governing body Appropriate authority Mrs Pamela Cooke Chair Mr Ian Kirkland Headteacher 1 December 2005 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous funded early education inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Linden Drive School address Lostock Hall Preston Lancashire PR5 5AS

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3–11 Age group 12–13 November 2008 Inspection dates 321546 Inspection number 01772 338289 Telephone number 01772 338936 Fax number

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3–11 Age group 12–13 November 2008 Inspection dates 321546 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. 3 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by three Additional Inspectors.

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Description of the school

This is a large split-site primary school, due to be amalgamated on to one site from September 2009. The vast majority of pupils are of White British heritage and all speak English as their first language. Pupils come from areas of average socio-economic conditions, but with pockets of disadvantage. The proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals is average. There is a below average proportion of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The Early Years Foundation Stage comprises Nursery and Reception classes. The school has extended provision before and after school, and during holiday times.

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Key for inspection grades

Outstanding Grade 1 Good Grade 2 Satisfactory Grade 3 Inadequate Grade 4 4 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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Grade: 1

This is an outstanding school. In their responses to the Ofsted questionnaire, parents were overwhelmingly supportive and very clear about what it is they like about the school. ‘Supportive teachers’, ‘the school ethos is very positive’, ‘achievement is recognised and celebrated’, ‘an excellent school’, ‘amazing progress’ were typical of many comments. This confidence is not misplaced for the school provides excellent value for money. Children join the Nursery with standards below what is typical for their age. They make excellent progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is a strength of the school. As pupils move up the school, they continue this excellent progress and leave with standards that are often well above average. In the national tests at the end of Year 6 in 2007, standards were well above average and pupils’ achievement was outstanding, as it had been in 2006. Provisional

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Grade: 1

results for 2008 indicate that, despite there being a significant minority of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, standards have risen further. Evidence from the inspection indicates that all the different groups of pupils are currently making excellent progress. Pupils achieve so well because of a combination of very good teaching and excellent attitudes. Good and sometimes outstanding teaching is characterised by good planning, high expectations and activities which are interesting and challenging. Occasionally, it is not made clear to pupils how they are expected to get the best from themselves, especially the more able pupils. However, pupils generally receive good guidance on how to improve their academic work and are excellently prepared for the next stage of learning. Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, is outstanding. Their attitudes to learning are exceptionally positive, and their behaviour both

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Grade: 1

in class and around the school is excellent. Pupils are polite, friendly and enthusiastic, showing by their well above average attendance how much they enjoy school. They throw themselves wholeheartedly into the life of the school and enjoy taking on responsible roles, such as librarians or team captains. They make a good contribution to the life of the school and local community, particularly through the very effective school council. An excellent curriculum, including outstanding enrichment opportunities and extra-curricular clubs and events, provides very effective support for pupils’ learning. It makes them fully aware of the value of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. Pupils say they feel safe in school and that there is no bullying. Excellent systems for pastoral care ensure pupils are taught in a safe and friendly environment, and systems for safeguarding comply with recent legislation. This is an outstanding school because its leadership and management are of an exceptionally

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Grade: 1

high quality. The headteacher is the driving force behind the school’s success. Excellent professional development has improved leadership at all levels and has, in turn, helped to raise standards. The school has an outstanding capacity to improve. Governors are enthusiastic and committed, and provide an appropriate mix of support and challenge. The extended provision is very well managed.

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Grade: 1

The outstanding EYFS provides an excellent start to the children’s education. While many children enter the Nursery with standards below expectations, especially in communication, language and literacy, they very quickly grow in confidence and progress rapidly 5 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008 in all areas of learning. Parents speak highly of the excellent arrangements for introducing their children to Nursery. Each child’s individual ability is quickly and carefully assessed, enabling the staff to meet their different needs effectively. As a result, children settle in very quickly, are well versed in class routines and make very good progress in all aspects of their work. This high quality provision continues into the Reception classes. Teaching and learning continue to be of a very high standard. There is exceptional teamwork with all staff working very closely

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Grade: 1

to meet the needs of the children. This is also apparent in the outstanding level of care that ensures that children are not only safe but feel highly valued. Planning for the areas of learning is extensive with staff, including support staff, providing an excellent range of exciting learning opportunities, such as pretending to go on safari. The EYFS Leader is an excellent role model. All respond positively to her enthusiasm and determination. Teachers know each child’s strengths and weaknesses from regular monitoring and assessment, and this helps them to plan learning at the right level. As a result of this excellent provision, nearly all children reach the levels expected by the start of Year 1.

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Ensure greater consistency in making it clear to different groups of pupils what they are expected to achieve.

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Grade: 1

Pupils make excellent progress as they move through the school and, by the end of Year 6, most pupils are achieving well above average standards. In the 2007 national tests at the end of Year 6, standards overall were significantly above average. Given pupils’ starting points, achievement for this year group was outstanding, as it was in the previous year. In 2007, teacher assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 indicated that standards were significantly above average. Provisional test results for 2008 indicate that standards at the end of both key stages have improved further. Pupils’ current progress continues to be outstanding, including that of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and of those identified as able, gifted or talented.

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Grade: 1

Pupils’ personal development is outstanding. Pupils love coming to school, and there has been no unauthorised absence for several years. They enjoy taking on responsibility, for example as Play Leaders or Eco-committee members, doing so with enthusiasm and commitment. The school council makes an excellent contribution to the school, attending governors’ meetings and organising after-school clubs and activities. The Eco-committee and other groups make a good contribution to the local community. Pupils understand why the school achieved its Healthy School award and Activemark award, and show it in their healthy life choices. The school has achieved the Basic Skills Award for the third time and pupils’ very good basic skills plus their enterprise work prepare them very well for the next stage of their education. Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. They enjoy the cross-faith

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Grade: 1

weekly guest assemblies and have a very good understanding of life in a multicultural society. Their attitudes and behaviour are excellent both in and out of lessons. They say that there is no bullying and that they feel safe in school. They play and mix easily together on the playground where Playground Friends provide a sense of reassurance. 6 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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Grade: 2

Consistently stimulating and challenging teaching, coupled with excellent attitudes to learning, enables pupils to make outstanding progress. Teachers’ expectations of pupils are high and effectively supported by very well planned lessons although there is some inconsistency in setting specific learning outcomes for different groups. Protracted whole class sessions also reduce the time available occasionally for tasks and activities. Well briefed teaching assistants are used effectively to work with small groups of pupils identified as needing additional help. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are integrated well into the normal routines of lessons. Pupils collaborate well in groups and their capacity to learn from each other through sharing and discussing ideas and opinions is a strong feature of the very best lessons. They enjoy taking responsibility for their own learning, such as deciding the success criteria for a

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Grade: 2

particular learning objective or assessing their own or others’ work.

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Grade: 1

The curriculum is outstanding, meeting pupils’ needs very effectively, including pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. It is planned in great detail, with very good attention given to developing basic skills. It is also very creative, offering pupils many opportunities to participate in exciting and innovative projects. Enrichment is excellent, with a strong emphasis on sport and the arts. Excellent links with local high schools support curriculum development very well. Provision for gifted, talented and able pupils is excellent and these pupils enjoy many challenging learning opportunities, such as participation in the Gifted Artist programme. Pupils enjoy and value the excellent range of extra-curricular activities, including after-school clubs like the young play leaders club and numeracy booster club, as well as residential visits. This impressive range of activities makes an outstanding contribution to pupils’ enjoyment and

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Grade: 1

The care, guidance and support pupils receive are excellent. Pupils say there is always someone they can turn to for help if needed. Learning mentors and outside agencies offer them effective support, including those who are vulnerable. Safeguarding procedures are up-to-date and conform to recent legislation. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are very effectively supported through their individual education plans. Able, gifted and talented pupils have personalised plans which provide excellent support. Pupils get very good guidance on how to improve their academic work. Assessment and monitoring systems are excellent. Pupils in danger of falling behind in their work are identified quickly and effective support is provided to boost their achievement. Pupils know what their curriculum and end-of-key-stage targets are and what they have to do to achieve them. Pupils are very well prepared for the next stage

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Grade: 1

of their education. Excellent links with local high schools ease the transition at the end of Year 6. 7 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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Grade: 1

The outstanding leadership and management of the school are fundamental to its success. The headteacher, ably supported by a highly effective deputy, provides the inspiration. Middle leaders have had excellent training and their contribution to school improvement has been immense. At every level, there is a relentless focus on ensuring pupils achieve the highest possible standards, both academically and personally, and a strong sense of teamwork. Challenging targets for national tests at the end of Year 6 are regularly met. Systems for self-evaluation and tracking pupils’ progress are outstanding. The issues from the previous inspection have been vigorously and successfully tackled. Governance is outstanding. Governors have excellent avenues of communication with parents and monitor the work of the school closely, providing challenge and support in equal measure. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive. Community cohesion is good. The extended provision, both before and after school

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Grade: 1

and during school holidays, is very well managed. 8 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 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. 9 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 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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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 capacity to make any necessary improvements

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EYFS?

1 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? How good are the overall personal development and well-being of the children in the EYFS? 1 How effectively are children in the EYFS helped to learn and develop? 1 How effectively is the welfare of children in the EYFS promoted? 1 How effectively is provision in the EYFS led and managed?

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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/or disabilities make progress

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Achievement and standards

1 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. 10 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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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 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 1 The extent to which learners enjoy their education 1 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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learners' needs?

How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 1 How well are learners cared for, guided and supported?

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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 1 How well equality of opportunity is promoted and discrimination eliminated 2 How well does the school contribute to community cohesion? 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? 11 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

14 November 2008 Dear Pupils Inspection of Lostock Hall Community Primary School, Lancashire, PR5 5AS Thank you so much for the very warm welcome you gave us when we inspected your school recently. We really appreciate the help you gave us and the interesting and exciting things you told us about your school. It was a pleasure to talk to you, both in the yard and in the dining room, and at formal meetings with, for example, the school council. What you told us helped us greatly in coming to a judgement about your school. I would like to tell you what we thought. Your school is an outstanding school in many different ways. First of all, you yourselves are a credit to your teachers and parents or carers. Your behaviour is excellent. Your attendance is outstanding and you never take time off unnecessarily. In your work, you make more progress than pupils in most other schools as well as reaching higher standards. Your teachers and other adults look after you exceptionally well and you are

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

well taught. Their good teaching and your own excellent attitudes ensure your learning is outstanding. None of this would be possible without the brilliant leadership and management of the school by your headteacher. We know that Mr Kirkland will ensure you do not slacken in your efforts to do the best you can. We are confident that under his leadership and that of the other leaders and managers in the school you will continue to go from strength to strength. We have asked the staff to do one small thing to help make your school even better, and that is to make sure you know at the very start of the lesson what it is you are expected to have learnt by the end. Thank you once again for all your help and good luck for the future. Yours sincerely Joe Clark Lead inspector on behalf of the team 12 of 12 Inspection Report: Lostock Hall Community Primary School, 12–13 November 2008

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