Spinney Hill Primary School

Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre Inspection report

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120084 Unique Reference Number Leicester City Local Authority 327194 Inspection number 27–28 April 2009 Inspection dates Roger Sadler 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 621 School (total) 0 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 Billy Bhamra Chair Matthew Stokes Headteacher 5 July 2006 Date of previous school inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous funded early education inspection Not previously inspected Date of previous childcare inspection Ventnor Street School address Leicester LE5 5EZ 01162 737047 Telephone number 01162 738807 Fax number

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3–11 Age group 27–28 April 2009 Inspection dates 327194 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. 2 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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Introduction

The inspection was carried out by four additional inspectors.

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Description of the school

Almost all pupils in this very large primary school are from minority ethnic backgrounds, mostly Asian and Asian British with family roots in India. A small but increasing proportion of pupils are from Eastern Europe. Many pupils are from homes where English is not the first language. The percentage of pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities is below average. Most of these relate to pupils' language development. The proportion of pupils entitled to claim free school meals is above average. Children enter the Early Years Foundation Stage half time at the beginning of the school year when they become four. Early Years Foundation Stage provision continues, full time, from the following September when all children who become five during the school year enter one of three Reception classes. A much higher proportion of pupils than is typical join or leave the school at times other than the normal points of entry. There is a small aftercare provision and

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Description of the school

a privately run pre-school on the school site which were inspected separately.

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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: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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Grade: 2

This is a good school. It is well led and managed. The headteacher has ensured that all staff are fully committed to continually improving the quality of provision and the pupils' achievement. Because monitoring and evaluation are thorough and effective, senior leaders have a clear and accurate view of where to focus their work to make the school better. The school has developed many aspects of its work since the previous inspection. For example, due to some determined work by staff, pupils' writing, especially that of the boys, is now much better than previously. The school has good capacity to continue to improve in the future. When children enter the Early Years Foundation Stage, many have knowledge and skills well below those typical for their age. Their English language skills are especially limited. Throughout the school pupils progress well and the vast majority of pupils achieve well to attain average

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Grade: 2

standards by the time they reach the end of Year 6. Care, guidance and support are good. The school regularly assesses and carefully monitors the progress of each pupil and additional support is given to those at risk of falling behind. Carefully tailored extra support by teachers and teaching assistants helps pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities progress well. Frequent extra help enables those who enter the school with limited spoken English to quickly gain in confidence and make good progress. Opportunities are occasionally missed to provide additional challenge or guidance for more able pupils or to enable pupils to undertake independent research or carry out investigations. Consequently, fewer pupils than could be expected reach the higher levels, especially in mathematics and science. Teaching and learning and the curriculum are good. Lessons are well planned and pupils are required to concentrate well, work hard and present their work well. From Nursery onwards,

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Grade: 2

behaviour and relationships are excellent. In lessons pupils are given many opportunities to speak to one another and to hold short discussions in pairs or small groups. Teachers' marking of pupils' work is challenging and gives clear guidance on where improvement is needed. Pupils say that they appreciate the way that teachers help them improve their work. The school makes a good contribution to community cohesion and keeps this part of its work under review. Staff ensure that pupils develop a clear understanding and sensitivity towards each other's lives and beliefs and also of those of other ways of life in modern Britain. The school has a useful link with two schools in India that helps pupils learn about living in other countries. Pupils' personal development and well-being are good. Staff care for pupils very well and relationships are excellent. Because staff manage pupils well, pupils enjoy their time at school,

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Grade: 2

work hard, concentrate in lessons and are friendly and polite. The vast majority of both parents and pupils regard the school highly. Many parents comment on how friendly and welcoming the staff are to both them and to their children.

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Grade: 2

The provision in the Nursery and Reception is good. Carefully planned induction arrangements, warm relationships with adults and effective links with parents enable children to settle easily into school routines and they soon feel safe and secure and enjoy their learning. As a result, although by the end of Reception standards are below the national average, most children achieve well and make good progress in all areas of learning. The welfare of each individual is 4 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009 carefully nurtured and pupils' personal development and their English language skills are fostered particularly well. Adults show great enthusiasm for the good quality activities and children talk eagerly about the broad range of experiences provided, such as the visiting police officers. They enjoy making disguises and their confidence in using language is developed when

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Grade: 2

they are challenged to identify how they have done this. Teaching is good and adults use questions well but occasionally they miss opportunities to target more difficult questions and tasks towards more able children and this slows their progress a little. There is an effective balance between activities the children choose for themselves and those led by the teacher. The provision is well led and managed and staff have a clear understanding of where improvements are needed. For example, the school is aware that lack of a covered area for Nursery children limits provision for learning outdoors. However, a plan is in hand to improve this aspect of provision. Language development and early literacy and numeracy skills are promoted well and this is having a very positive effect on the development of children's reading skills and their confidence in writing and handling numbers. The children develop good awareness of the wider world and most know that you need an aeroplane to

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What the school should do to improve further

■ Increase the proportion of pupils achieving higher levels, especially in mathematics and science, by providing greater challenge, guidance and support for more able pupils. ■ Increase opportunities for pupils to engage in personal research and investigation.

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Grade: 2

Pupils make good progress and achieve well so that by the end of Year 6 standards are broadly in line with national averages. In Years 1 and 2, pupils make good progress but standards by the end of Year 2 remain a little below average. National test results for 2008 indicate that Year 6 pupils attained average standards in English and mathematics but below average standards in science. Good leadership in science has resulted in the school taking appropriate action to improve science standards by placing greater emphasis on developing pupils' investigative skills and standards are rising. Those pupils with limited English, including those who join the school after the normal time of entry, are carefully inducted and welcomed into the school and soon begin to progress well. Strong emphasis is placed on developing pupils' oral skills and their progress and achievement in spoken English are excellent. Pupils are given frequent

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Grade: 2

opportunities to hold short discussions with a partner or in a small group in many lessons and, by the time they reach the older classes, almost all pupils speak and use English confidently and articulately. Pupils with learning difficulties and/or disabilities make good progress due to good quality support by teachers and teaching assistants.

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Grade: 2

Pupils make good progress in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and show great sensitivity to each other. Excellent relationships and behaviour provide a firm foundation for the good progress pupils make. Pupils understand how to act safely and how to behave with consideration for the safety of others. They also know how to use the internet safely. They enjoy school and feel safe, happy and secure. Despite very effective arrangements to ensure that pupils attend regularly and arrive on time, levels of attendance are only average 5 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009 because too many pupils go on extended family visits during term time. Pupils work hard and show great pride in the way they present their work and look after their books. They understand how to lead healthy lives, understand the importance of eating healthy foods and take full

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Grade: 2

advantage of the sports activities and coaching sessions made available to them. They take the responsibilities given to them very seriously, for example as members of the school forum. Members of the school forum are especially proud of the contribution they made to the removal of the mobile classroom to extend the play space available. They are well involved in the local and wider communities, for example through raising money for a leper community in India. Pupils' well-developed personal and social skills and satisfactory literacy and numeracy skills provide a sound preparation for the next stage of their education and the world of work beyond.

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Grade: 2

Good teaching ensures pupils progress well and enjoy their learning. Staff provide a calm, positive and supportive learning environment. Teachers hold high expectations of how pupils should behave and present their work. Pupils therefore work hard and take real pride in the way they look after their books. Teachers' confident subject knowledge and use of interactive whiteboards and the good quality resources used help make many lessons interesting and fun. Occasionally, the introduction to lessons is too long and limits the amount of time left for the planned activity or more independent work. Teachers explain to pupils exactly what learning is intended and pupils are very clear about what is expected of them. Also, in many lessons, pupils are encouraged to evaluate their own and others' work to help them see where improvement is needed. Teaching assistants are well deployed and provide good support for

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Grade: 2

pupils with additional learning needs or those at the early stages of learning English. Although planning takes into account the different abilities of pupils in the group, it does not always ensure sufficient challenge for the most able.

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Grade: 2

The curriculum makes a good contribution to pupils' academic and personal development and enjoyment of learning. The effective personal, social and health education programme reflects the strong, caring ethos of the school. The curriculum is well organised and takes account of the differing interests and abilities of pupils well, especially of the needs of pupils with identified learning difficulties and pupils who are new to the school or who speak English as an additional language. Pupils learn through a wide range of activities, although opportunities for independent research and investigation in mathematics and science are less well developed. The use of information and communication technology, literacy and numeracy to enhance learning in other subjects is good; for example, Year 4 pupils used computers to write play scripts about Theseus and the Minotaur. The range of visits and visitors, including sports coaches, is good and enriches

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Grade: 2

pupils' experiences. The school provides a satisfactory range of clubs and out-of-school activities.

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Grade: 2

Pastoral care is strong and pupils trust staff and know who to turn to if they have any concerns. Procedures for child protection and safeguarding, including those for internet safety, fully 6 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009 meet current requirements. Arrangements to ensure pupils behave well are fully effective and result in excellent behaviour and relationships. Leaders and teachers use their comprehensive knowledge of the progress of each individual to direct additional guidance and support where it is needed. Marking is consistently effective and gives pupils clear guidance on where they need to concentrate to improve their work. Pupils, especially in older classes, show a clear understanding of their learning targets, except when they are expressed in language they do not understand.

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Grade: 2

Good leadership and management are evident in pupils' good progress, their polite, confident and pleasant demeanour and excellent behaviour. The headteacher, deputy headteacher and assistant headteachers encourage and enable other leaders to develop their leadership roles. Governors know the school well and carry out their roles effectively in challenging, supporting and helping the school improve. Subject leaders also play an important part in monitoring and improving provision in their subjects. They recognise, however, that they need further training in using national data to compare performance in their subjects with that of similar schools nationally. Clear guidance and training for staff and rigorous follow-up checks ensure that aspects of teaching, such as the way pupils are helped to improve their work, are consistently effective throughout this large school. Communication and relationships with parents are good

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Grade: 2

and parents are kept well informed about events at school and how they might help their children at home. 7 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009 .

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Grade: 2

in the guidance 'Complaints about school inspection', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. 8 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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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? 2 The capacity to make any necessary improvements

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EYFS?

2 How well do children in the EYFS achieve? How good are the overall personal development and well-being of the children in the EYFS? 2 How effectively are children in the EYFS helped to learn and develop? 2 How effectively is the welfare of children in the EYFS promoted? 2 How effectively is provision in the EYFS led and managed?

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Achievement and standards

2 How well do learners achieve? 3 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/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. 9 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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learners?

2 The extent of learners' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 2 The extent to which learners adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which learners adopt safe practices 2 The extent to which 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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learners' needs?

How well do the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of learners? 2 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 2 How effectively leaders and managers use challenging targets to raise standards 2 The effectiveness of the school's self-evaluation 2 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? 10 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

29 April 2009 Dear Pupils Inspection of Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, Leicester, LE5 5EZ Thank you for making us so welcome when we came to inspect your school. We send special thanks to those of you who gave up part of your lunchtime to talk with us. We thoroughly enjoyed talking with you and your teachers and watching you learn. Spinney Hill Primary is a good school. It is well run, giving you a good education and a good preparation for life in your next school and in the wider community. Adults teach you well so that you make good progress. I am pleased yours is such a happy school and that you and your parents are pleased with it. You enjoy school and most of you attend regularly, although quite a few of you sometimes take quite a long time away from school during term time. You all have a clear understanding of how to act safely. You understand what is right and what is wrong. You also show

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

consideration for others and are very friendly to each other. You should be proud of your excellent behaviour and manners. Those of you who find learning difficult make good progress because the school helps you learn. Those of you who speak other languages at home make great strides in learning to speak, read and write English. There are many things that your headteacher, the staff and the governors want to improve because they want your school to get even better. We agree with them that there are two important things to be done first. These are to:

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ help those who find learning easier to do even better in science and mathematics

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

■ give you more opportunities to investigate and find things out for yourselves.

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Text from letter to pupils explaining the findings of the inspection

I send you our very best wishes for the future. Yours faithfully Roger Sadler Lead inspector 11 of 11 Inspection Report: Spinney Hill Primary School and Community Centre, 27–28 April 2009

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