Setting

Aviation House 125 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 0300 123 1231 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Miss G Mason Headteacher Monton Green Primary School Pine Grove Eccles Manchester M30 9JP

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Ofsted 2010–11 best practice survey: safeguarding in schools

Thank you for your hospitality and cooperation, and that of your staff and pupils, during my visit on 12 July 2010 to look at work in safeguarding.

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Ofsted 2010–11 best practice survey: safeguarding in schools

The visit provided valuable information which will contribute to our publication about best practice in safeguarding in schools. The publication will include case studies about individual schools. If Monton Green Primary School is included as a case study, you will have an opportunity to comment before publication. Individual institutions will not be identified in the main text without their consent.

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Ofsted 2010–11 best practice survey: safeguarding in schools

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the school and the opportunity to explore with you the school’s outstanding practice in safeguarding. Please pass on my thanks to the staff, chair of governors, and parents who took the time to meet with me. I was thrilled to meet with the Year 6 members of the School Council who are true ambassadors for the school. Please thank them for their helpful contribution to this survey and give them my very best wishes as they move on to their new secondary schools.

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Features of good practice

 Senior leaders have been very successful in creating a nurturing school where positive relationships are at the heart of everyday life. A number of people commented that this is an ‘open’ school where staff are approachable and always willing to offer help, advice and support. Pupils’ well-being is paramount. The high standards relating to safeguarding are seen in the rigour and consistency of policy in everyday practice. Pupils are familiar with day-to-day routines and know what is expected of them. As a result, they are happy at school, trust the adults and feel safe. They are well aware of the care staff take of them in school and on trips and one remembered with fondness his residential trip to Wales, which he described as ‘the highlight of my Year 6’.  Pupils are polite and courteous to each other and to adults. They respect the Golden Rules and enjoy the Golden Time activities they have earned.

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Features of good practice

From an early age, pupils are taught how to protect themselves and others from harm. Safeguarding is threaded through all aspects of the curriculum, helping pupils to learn about dangers and potential risks to their health and safety. Pupils’ knowledge and understanding of e-safety were impressive.  Parents are extremely positive about the school and the staff’s efforts to keep them informed, listen to their views and involve them in decisions about their children’s education. They are reassured by the care taken to protect their children. Also, they value the simple and attractive booklet provided for parents of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage which contains helpful information and guidance about daily routines and how they can help their children to learn.  The staffing structure has been carefully designed to help the school to meet its aim of providing a comfortable, safe and stress-free environment,

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Features of good practice

which supports effective learning. Collaboration, team work and excellent lines of communication are key factors in the school’s success in achieving this goal. This is underpinned by clear policies, procedures and guidelines which demonstrate the school’s careful attention to detail and its broad view of safeguarding as integral to all aspects of the school’s work.  Visitors to the school are struck by its attractive, safe and welcoming environment. The school has given careful consideration to how it uses the accommodation and grounds to promote effective learning and, at the same time, ensure pupils’ safety and well-being. All staff are involved in conducting regular audits of the environment which look at not only physical aspects of the premises, such as noise and lighting levels, but at other factors such as classroom layout, resources and displays, daily routines, and relationships between staff and pupils. Staff teams value this

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Features of good practice

activity and willingly take responsibility for identifying and remedying any points for improvement. This is an interesting and effective approach to safeguarding and its role in improving teaching and learning.  Arrangements for vetting staff, volunteers, governors, contractors and visitors are thorough. An example of the school’s rigour is seen in the additional steps it takes to check the suitability and identity of any supply staff working in the school. The school applies the same level of scrutiny to its extended provision, for example when organising before- and after- school clubs. For example, parents are required to ‘sign in’ their children each morning and then sign them out at the end of the day.  The school places high priority on staff training, drawing on good support from the local authority to ensure that staff are kept up to date on safeguarding matters, such as child protection. The school may wish to

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Features of good practice

review the opportunities and arrangements for safeguarding training for governors and volunteers. I hope that these observations are useful as you continue to develop safeguarding in the school.

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Features of good practice

As explained previously, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website under the URN for your school. It will also be available to the team for your next school inspection.

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