Longstone Primary School

Standards and Quality Report 2016-17

& Improvement Plan 2017-18

SUMMARY FOR FAMILIESImprovement Plan 2016-2017 Priority 1: Raising Attainment in

Literacy and NumeracyWhat We Said We’d

Do?What Did We Achieve?

In Literacy: Organise and improve our

reading resources. Implement a new whole-school

spelling programme. Attend training on developing

vocabulary in the nurseryIn Numeracy:

Extend the SEAL (Stages of Early Arithmetical Learning) programme in to P3.

Develop further the SEAL programme in the Nursery.

In both Literacy and Numeracy: Develop our approaches to

planning, tracking and

In Literacy: Applied for a grant of £7800 and bought new reading books with this. Introduced a new whole-school spelling progression. Almost all pupils made progress in their spelling scores from 2016 to

2017 in the SWST (Single Word Spelling Test). Most pupils achieved expected CfE levels in Reading and Writing. Introduced Vocabulary Boost programme in the nursery. New planning and tracking systems were implemented for Literacy

and Numeracy. Almost all pupils who received additional support for Reading made

progress from 2016 to 2017 in the SWRT (Single Word Reading Test).In Numeracy:

Extended use of SEAL into P3 as main approach for teaching numeracy.

Introduced aspects of SEAL into the nursery for pre-school children. Most pupils achieved expected CfE levels in Maths and Numeracy.

In Literacy and Numeracy: New planning and tracking systems were introduced for Literacy and

Numeracy.

assessment. Support families by running

programmes. Look closely at the attainment

and progress of all learners. Develop, use and apply our

Literacy and Numeracy skills in Outdoor Learning.

Biannual attainment meetings were set up between teacher and SMT to formally track attainment and progress.

Bedtime stories and Story Sacks continued in the nursery. All P1-3 families received Bookbug and Read, Write, Count bags.

Family workshops were run to launch Bookbug and Read, Write, Count bags.

All pupils P3-7 participated in two Outdoor Learning sessions a week with our Forest Schools trained teacher and pupils in P1/P2 had one session at least each week.

Improvement Plan 2017-2018 Priority 1: Raising Attainment in Literacy and Numeracy

What are we going to do next?

In Literacy and Numeracy, we will:

Ensure that we use consistent and progressive planning and tracking systems. Ensure that we use consistent approaches to teaching and learning in Literacy

(Writing) and Numeracy. Ensure that we have consistent approaches to teaching Listening skills from

Nursery-P7. Continue to monitor closely the progress of all pupils and target support where it is

needed. Develop even greater coherence from Nursery in to P1 (Early Level). Raise attainment for all in Literacy and Numeracy.

(PEF) Funded through Pupil Equity Funding from the Scottish Government.

HOW will we do this?

Extend SEAL in to P4 as the main approach for teaching Numeracy and extend its use in the Nursery.

Implement Big Maths as the main resource for teaching Maths P1-P7 and Numeracy P5-7. (PEF)

Implement a programme of Maths Recovery for pupils not achieving in Maths and Numeracy. (PEF)

Implement Big Writing Adventures as the main planning and teaching resource for Writing P1-P7.

Implement the ‘Teaching Children to Listen’ programme across the whole school. Increase attainment meetings between class teachers and SMT to termly (three

times a year). Explore ways to consistently support and challenge learners across the whole

school. Develop approaches to play-based learning at the Early Level with the support of

Edinburgh University. (PEF)

Improvement Plan 2016-2017 Priority 2: Closing the Gap in Attainment between our Most and Least Advantaged Children

What We Said We’d Do?

What Did We Achieve?

Attend training on the All staff received ‘One in Five’ training on the effects for pupils of living in

effects for pupils of living in poverty.

Identify ways as a school that we can better support families.

Attend further training to support pupils with autism.

Track closely the attainment and progress of pupils experiencing barriers to their learning.

Try new ways of involving pupils in child planning meetings.

Explore ways of making our classrooms and the school more inclusive for children with additional needs.

poverty. Two ‘One in Five’ parent workshops and a pupil workshop were held.

A pupil group, ‘Agents for Change’ was set up to look at ways that the school could reduce the cost of the school day.

A ‘One in Five’ action plan was created and changes were made including a new and used uniform boutique and a snack tray for pupils not bringing a snack to school.

The school applied for a grant of £1000 to help families with the cost of school camp.

A number of homework clubs were set up across the school. The PALS group decided to allocate 10% of funds raised to help support

families in need. The attainment of pupils experiencing poverty as a barrier to learning was

closely tracked as was the attainment of pupils with a parent serving in the military, our Looked After children, our pupils with English as an Additional Language and our pupils with a diagnosis of autism.

A number of Pupil Support Assistants received training to enable them to run social communication groups.

The majority of families completed a Family Learning survey. We trialled a new way of gathering pupils’ views in advance of Child

Planning Meetings which gave us a lot more detail than before.

Improvement Plan 2017-2018 Priority 2: Closing the Gap in Attainment between our Most and Least Advantaged Children

We need to give all learners the support they need to have an equal

chance of success.

(PEF) Funded through Pupil Equity Funding from the Scottish Government.

What are we going to do next?We will:

Improve the attainment and progress of pupils facing barriers to learning such as poverty.

Continue to reduce the cost of the school day. Review our Home Learning policy, ensuring that it does not further disadvantage

pupils experiencing barriers to learning. Ensure high quality learning and teaching for all of our pupils. Support pupils to attend school every day, on time.

HOW will we do this?

Continue to closely track the attainment and progress of pupils experiencing barriers to learning, such as poverty, and target interventions as needed.

Monitor the attainment, achievement, inclusion, attendance, engagement and participation of pupils facing barriers to learning.

Launch a walking bus and review/improve our attendance monitoring procedures. (PEF)

Expand our use of Digital Technologies and Assessment strategies to enhance learning and teaching.

Improvement Plan 2016-2017 Priority 3: Improving the Health and Wellbeing of our Pupils

What We Said We’d Do?

What Did We Achieve?

Create a shared vision, values and aims for our school.

Review our Behaviour Policy.

Works towards Rights Respecting Schools Level 1 award.

Widen our Outdoor Learning experiences.

Participate in ‘Forest Schools’ training.

Review how we use our school grounds for learning and play.

Develop our approaches to planning learning in Health and Wellbeing.

Staff have given their ideas for the school’s vision, values and aims. P1 parents gave their ideas towards the school vision. All families were given a questionnaire linked to the GIRFEC indicators

(rating how Safe, Happy, Nurtured, Respected, Responsible, Safe, Achieving their children are). Results were extremely positive.

All staff and pupils were consulted on the strengths/next steps for the school.

A Rights Respecters pupil group was set up and looked at the good practice at Oxgangs Primary and at Redhall School.

All classes created a RRS class charter. The RRS rights were referred to in assemblies. Our Outdoor Learning teacher completed Level 3 Forest Schools training, a

PSA also completed training and one of our EYPs completed Forest Kindergarten training.

Pupils in P3-7 completed a Pupil Wellbeing survey. Almost all said they like playtimes (91%), help others (92%), don’t laugh at others (95%), treat others well (91%), have good friends (90%), think adults in the school set a good example (97%) and that teachers care about them (90%).

Most children said that adults in the school are good at dealing with bullying (85%).

Our P6 pupils completed Kitbag training with Children’s 1st –the first school in Edinburgh to do so. Kitbag was rolled out as an emotional wellbeing support for pupils, by pupils.

Improvement Plan 2017-2018 Priority 3: Improving the Health and Wellbeing of our Pupils

What are we going to do next?

We will: Enhance opportunities for pupils’ creative play and increase the resilience of our pupils. Finalise a shared Vision, Values and Aims. Increase family learning opportunities across the school which meet the needs of

families. Offer more support to MOD families. Encourage Healthy Lifestyles.

HOW will we do this?

All pupils and staff will take part in Loose Parts Play training alongside staff from Redhall School.

Launch a whole-school Resilience programme and trial Forest Schools as a small-group intervention.

All pupils, staff, families, local community and partners will be involved in finalising our school’s Vision, Values and Aims.

We will run the FAST (Families and Schools Together Programme), PEEP in the nursery and an Art Therapy Group for families of eligible Twos in the Nursery (in partnership with Place2Be).

(PEF) Funded through Pupil Equity Funding from the Scottish Government.

We will use the website more to host family learning videos for families to use. Appoint a cluster MOD Family Link worker. Continue to provide free fruit at break times. (PEF)

Improvement Plan 2016-2017 Priority 4: Equipping our Pupils with Skills for Learning Work & LifeWhat We Said We’d

Do?What Did We Achieve?

Work with Firrhill High School to plan and deliver a P7 World of Work topic.

Review how we celebrate and track wider achievements e.g. when pupils win a competition out of school.

Further develop pupils’ leadership skills and involvement in making decisions through our pupil groups.

Encourage pupils to have a ‘growth mindset’.

All P7 pupils took part in a cluster World of Work event and feedback was very positive.

We reviewed how we celebrate pupils’ personal achievements and agreed a consistent approach across the school.

All pupils in P6 and P7 participated in the JASS Award Scheme. We increased the number of pupil groups to: Pupil Council, Rights

Respecters, Eco Committee, Agents for Change, Junior Road Safety Officers, House Captains.

The School Choir and Drama Club were very successful. Pupils in P5-7 participated in a wider range of sporting activities:

Interscholastics, Cross Country, Swimming & Dive Gala, Games at the Hub, Rugby with Merchiston Castle pupils, Bikeability.

We have a very active school football team which is run by dedicated parents of the school.

Pupils from a wide range of social backgrounds are represented on our pupil groups, at competitions and participate in clubs.

Pupils in P5 and P6 had the opportunity to run lunchtime clubs for younger pupils.

P5 and P5/6 pupils participated in the Scottish Engineering Awards. P7 pupils enjoyed a range of responsibilities including: Prefect duties,

Learn about the habits we can develop which lead to better learning, also known as ‘learning powers’.

Introduce all pupils to a new whole-school Resilience programme.

House Captains and Playground buddies. Our Depute Head Teacher completed the Building Resilience training. All pupils were introduced to Growth Mindsets through a series of

assemblies and class tasks. Family leaflets were sent home. In the Pupil Wellbeing survey, most pupils (88%) said they persevere and

can learn from mistakes.

Improvement Plan 2017-2018 Priority 4: Equipping our Pupils with Skills for Learning Work & Life

What are we going to do next?

We will: Increase opportunities for pupils’ learning in STEM (Science, Technologies,

Engineering, Maths). Consistently use digital technologies across the school to enhance teaching and

learning.

HOW will we do this?

All P7 pupils will attend a cluster STEM event at Edinburgh College. Hold a Digital Technologies Week.

Hold a Maths Week with a focus on problem-solving and on developing a Mathematical Mindset.

Training for all staff from the Digital Learning Team on using Ipads in class to enhance teaching and learning.

Finalise our three-year Digital Strategy. Provide the hardware and software to support the use of digital technologies.

SOME OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF…

In its March 2017 inspection by the Care

Inspectorate, our nursery retained its grades of Very Good for Care & Support, Staffing and Leadership.

Our Drama Club put on the most amazing performance of

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Our School Choir reached

the finals of the Glee

competition.

Our P6s created a video about the laws

Our Outdoor Learning teacher raised £5000 to convert the container

into an outdoor

We developed further our

Partnerships with:

Working TogetherIt is our firm belief that we need to work together to achieve the best outcomes for our pupils at Longstone.

Please let us know if you have ideas or suggestions to improve what we do.

We are also keen to hear from you if you have any skills, knowledge, expertise or contacts that we could use to enhance our pupils’ learning.

Contact Us

Our P6s created a video about the laws

Our Outdoor Learning teacher raised £5000 to convert the container

into an outdoor

We developed further our

Partnerships with:

Angela Pearston Head TeacherLongstone Primary School0131 443 4743admin@longstone.edin.sch.uk