Setting

Mrs Sheryl Kent The Headteacher David Livingstone Primary School Northwood Road Thornton Heath CR7 8HX

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Thank you for the help which you and your staff gave when I inspected your school on 20 May 2008, for the time you gave to our phone discussions and for the information which you provided before and during my visit. Please pass on my thanks to the pupils and staff who met with me, to the vice chair of governors and to the advisor from the local authority (LA) for the time they gave.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website. Please inform the Regional Inspection Service Provider of any factual inaccuracies within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

As a result of the inspection on 28 September 2007, the school was asked to:  meet all statutory requirements in relation to child protection  strengthen governance so there is more systematic monitoring of all aspects of the school's work particularly those relating to children's welfare  increase the challenge for higher attaining pupils in Years 1 and 2.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

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

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

The headteacher and governors have rigorously implemented thorough record keeping, regular review, monitoring and reporting systems to ensure that statutory requirements in relation to child protection are fully met. The school has been assiduous in following up delays in paperwork and putting in place appropriate measures to ensure safeguarding. In addition, policies covering other related aspects such as attendance, recruitment and induction have been revised.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Governors have reviewed their roles and responsibilities and made good use of expertise within the team to interrogate current systems and overhaul procedures for safeguarding pupils. The vice-chair has taken on specific responsibility for safeguarding and has carried out regular checks, been involved in reviews and has reported regularly to the full governing body. Governors are beginning to develop Prospects Learning Services Ltd 132-138 High Street Bromley Kent BR1 1EZ T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 020 8313 7760 Direct F 020 8464 3393 systems for improving their monitoring and evaluation roles across all aspects of the school, including pupil achievement.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

The school has improved systems for regularly assessing and tracking the progress of all pupils. This is increasing staff understanding of assessment and raising awareness of inconsistencies in the rates of progress across the school. Improving the consistency of progress and raising the achievement of all pupils, particularly the more able in Key Stage 1 continues to be a focus for improvement. In Years 1 and 2 pupils are covering a lot of ground and there are some good examples in the pupils' books of interesting activities across subjects. Pupils in Year 1 are beginning to make good progress, particularly in reading and writing. However, in Year 2, too few pupils are working at the higher levels of attainment. In some classes too much use is being made of published worksheets. These put a ceiling on the level of challenge, particularly for more able pupils, and limit the opportunities for all pupils to become

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Monitoring of lessons was carried out early in the year and there has been some specific follow up to raise the quality of teaching and learning. However, further monitoring has not been sharply enough focused on ensuring consistency across classes or on evaluating the challenge in lessons for more able pupils. A deputy headteacher has recently been appointed and the roles of subject leaders are at the early stages of development so there is scope to increase and enhance the quality of monitoring across the school.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

The LA is carrying out its support role well. LA advisors provided rapid assistance during the early stages to ensure safeguarding systems were immediately implemented. LA consultants for the Foundation Stage and literacy have provided good, well targeted support throughout the year. Further LA support to develop monitoring and evaluation skills of the relatively inexperienced leadership team would now be useful.

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

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

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Ofsted monitoring of schools with a Notice to Improve

Sheena MacDonald Her Majesty's Inspector

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