Setting

Mr Tim Foster Abbey Primary Community School Ellis Avenue Leicester LE4 5LB

p.1

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 Wednesday 19 May 2010 and for the information which you provided during my visit . Please pass on my thanks to all your staff and pupils and to the governors and local authority representative who also took time to speak to me.

p.1

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

Since the last inspection, an additional full-time administrative officer has been appointed with specific responsibility for safeguarding.

p.1

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

As a result of the inspection on 24 November 2009, the school was asked to ensure that the single central record complies with statutory safeguarding regulations; and improve teaching, especially for pupils in Key Stage 1, by making targets more personalised to individual pupils and using them more effectively through discussion and reinforcement with pupils during lessons.

p.1

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 outstanding progress in addressing the issues for improvement and in raising the pupils’ achievement. Pupils of all ages and backgrounds make good progress from a low start so that standards are above average by the end of Year 6.

p.1

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The school has acted swiftly and very effectively to address the previous shortcomings in the single central record. Safeguarding is at the heart of all the school’s work. The single central record now meets all statutory requirements and is comprehensive and detailed. A dedicated administrative officer has been appointed to ensure that it is updated on a weekly basis. In addition, spot-checks are carried out weekly by senior staff and governors through safeguarding walks. Any irregularities identified are addressed immediately.

p.1

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

Under the headteacher’s leadership, the school has gone further to ensure that the site is as safe as possible. Perimeter fences have been raised, and entrances secured with locked gates. All entrances are patrolled by clearly identified staff at the start of Serco Inspections Boundary House 2 Wythall Green Way Middle Lane Birmingham West Midlands B47 6LW T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0121 683 2832 Direct email : Tim.Ogbourn@serco.com Page 2 the school day. Arrangements for visitors are robust. All visitors are issued with identity badges and are escorted at all times.

p.1

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The school has invested heavily from its own budget in resources, staff and building work to safeguard the premises and pupils. Additional lunchtime supervision has been allocated to ensure pupils are kept safe at break times. Pupils report that they feel safe and confident to report bullying incidents to adults. They are less likely to report any name calling, however. They would know what to do if they saw a stranger in the school not wearing an identity badge.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The head teacher keeps all staff fully up to date with regular safeguarding briefings and reminders, for example in ensuring staff disclose any contact with parents out of school. All staff and governors have received safeguarding training and senior designated leaders have had their training renewed and updated. Parents have also been offered e-safety training. Risk assessments are carried out thoroughly and during this visit all relevant checks were carried out prior to a Year 6 trip to a pleasure park. The curriculum reflects the school’s priority of keeping pupils safe through its social and emotional aspects of learning programme and anti-bullying initiatives.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The school liaises well with the local community and has a strong degree of trust and support from parents. The high proportion of staff who are bilingual ensure that communications with families on safeguarding issues are good. The school is aware that it now needs to find ways to make such information available in different languages in electronic form, for example, on the school’s website.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The governing body has risen well to the challenge from the last inspection. In addition to the training received, there is a dedicated safeguarding governor who accompanies you on safeguarding walks. Recruitment procedures have been tightened up and governors were involved in recent teacher appointments. All relevant policies, including the child protection policy, have been reviewed and updated. The school is now addressing ways of ensuring parents know how they can see the child protection policy, which is available on the school’s website.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The local authority’s statement of action has been evaluated and fulfils the requirements. The impact of this has led to rapid improvements in safeguarding procedures. The school has worked closely with the local authority’s safer recruitment team to ensure that all safeguarding requirements are in place. Both the local authority and the school are now considering how they can work closer together in the future to draw on the school’s experience for the benefit of other schools in the authority.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

The school has made good progress in improving teaching, particularly in Key Stage 1. All pupils have individual targets which they know and have been involved in setting. Pupils know the meaning of technical terms in their targets and can give examples of how to achieve them. Teachers’ marking, particularly in literacy, reflects Page 3 the targets and gives pupils clear feedback on what they have achieved and how to reach the next step. Targets are continuously referred to in lessons. Pupils are involved in reviewing their own work and that of their peers. The impact of the school’s work in improving teaching and target-setting has been most visible in literacy at Key Stage 1.

p.2

Ofsted monitoring of schools with a notice to improve

I hope that you have found the visit helpful in promoting improvement in your school. This letter will be posted on the Ofsted website.

p.3