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Issue 15 April 2013

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Across Ofsted

Literacy is top of the agenda this month. In April, Ofsted published the survey report Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility, held the first three in a series of national ‘Better English and mathematics’ conferences for headteachers, governors and teachers, and celebrated International children’s book day with a suite of case studies featuring good practice in English and literacy.

Telling Tales describes how a childminder records children’s learning with cheap, easily made storyboards, which create lasting memory books to record children’s interests and achievements.

At Rodbourne Cheney Primary School, Reception and Year 1 pupils share a large unit divided into learning zones, which helps each child understand what they are learning and why.

At Aston Manor Academy, a senior leader and a literacy coordinator support the planning for, and teaching of, the literacy skills developed initially by English teachers.

Don Valley School and Performing Arts College has focused on improving students’ attitudes to reading to enhance their progress in English and their literacy skills across other areas of the curriculum.

English at Peele Community College places independent learning skills at the centre of the Key Stage 3 curriculum.

Literacy: a non-negotiable – We have produced a series of six films, setting out ‘outstanding’ practice in the teaching of reading in three primary schools: Oldway Primary and Ilsham Church of England Primary Academy, both in Torbay, and Tollgate Primary in Newham.

The films are on Ofsted’s website and on YouTube for inspectors to use for school improvement work and their own training, and for schools and nurseries to watch as examples of high expectations.

Schools

News

Following the focused inspections in February and March, Ofsted has written to Portsmouth City Council and Coventry City Council to summarise the findings.

The focused inspections are part of Ofsted’s concerted programme of action to establish why children in some parts of the country have a much lower chance of attending a good or better school than in other similar areas.

Improving literacy in secondary schools: a shared responsibility – This good practice report draws on visits to secondary schools that have been effective in improving literacy across the curriculum.

The survey found that the best schools made literacy an integral part of the whole curriculum and their longer term school improvement plans.

This month, Ofsted also hosted the first three in a series of national ‘Better English and mathematics’ conferences to drive improvement in schools and academies, and to help accelerate pupil progress and raise attainment.

In Manchester and London, headteachers, chairs of governing bodies, and subject leaders for English and mathematics gathered to hear inspectors share evidence of what works well and to discuss ideas and strategies for improvement.

There are more of these conferences to come throughout the year.

Features

Rate your child’s school on Parent View – When a school is being inspected, parents and carers are asked to complete Parent View – Ofsted's online questionnaire – instead of the previous paper questionnaire. You can also fill in Parent View at any time of the academic year. You just need to register on Parent View with your email address and choose a password. It only takes a few minutes to answer the 12 questions and give your views on your child’s school.

Good practice

Using modern technology to improve English – Alwoodley Primary School uses a range of information and communication technology (ICT) resources to improve teaching and learning in English. The children are encouraged to experiment confidently with different approaches to communication to understand how language changes to meet specific demands and to appreciate the importance of reviewing and improving early drafts.

News

A single inspection framework for children’s services – On 12 April, the Chief Inspector announced plans to inspect local authority child protection and services for children who are looked after under a single, combined framework.

The decision follows discussions with various local government representatives and a thorough look at the results of the trial inspections we've been doing over the last few months.

It means deferring the multi-agency child protection inspections that we had planned to start in June, and stopping plans to inspect services for looked after children separately.

Keeping out of trouble – More local activities and places to go would stop children and young people from breaking the law.

In the report Keeping out of trouble, the Children’s Rights Director for England asks 187 children and young people who are either living in care or in a secure training centre for their views on what the worst kinds of trouble are and how to avoid getting into them.

They think the main reasons why people their age break the law are peer pressure, not having any money and boredom, as well as progressing from the edges of crime. Their top three ways to stop this are more local activities and places to go, jobs for young people and government help for young people.

Features

What do you think of your social care services? Ofsted’s online questionnaires for 2013 are open until the end of May.

We want you – all children, young people, parents, carers, relatives and any other interested people – to give your views on your social care services.

The results help us prepare for inspections and inform our decisions about when to inspect but, last year, around half of all providers didn’t return a single response.

You can get the questionnaire from your children’s home, fostering services, adoption agency or residential family centre.

If they aren’t able to supply you with the questionnaire, for whatever reason, contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 or enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk and we’ll make sure you have a chance to give us your views.

Good practice

Multi-agency Children and Young People’s Partnership Panel supporting youth crime reduction work in Hackney – The Children and Young People’s Partnership (CYPP) Panel in Hackney enables successful collaboration on cases where young people are identified with peripheral gang involvement or are showing early signs of sexual exploitation.

Adult learning and skills

News

Could you change the lives of over four million learners? We're recruiting a Deputy Director, Learning and Skills to be Ofsted’s link with further education across England. If you’ve got the passion and expertise to be the credible voice of learning and skills, have a look at our microsite and apply by 13 May.

Features

A spirit of enterprise – Matthew Coffey, Ofsted’s Director, Learning and Skills, has spoken out about the importance of Further Education and skills in supporting social and economic development by preparing young people for their next step.

Picking up on Ofsted’s November 2012 report Promoting enterprise in vocational courses for 16–19-year-old students in colleges, an article by Matthew in Public Service highlights enterprise and employability skills as a key feature of excellent learning and skills provision. The good practice case study below is a great example of just that.

Good practice

Using business and enterprise to enhance student progression – Christ the King College in Lewisham used partnership working to enhance students’ experience of their excellent business department. In fact, the Principal describes their enterprise graduate programme as a ‘beacon of success’ in the college.

Early years and childcare

News

Good early years get children off to a flying start – Ofsted has launched a consultation to ensure that good is the only acceptable standard of education and care provided by nurseries, pre-schools and childminders for our youngest children.

The Chief Inspector unveiled his plans for improvement in early years on 19 April during a visit to the Thomas Coram Early Childhood Centre in London.

At the end of August 2012, up to 243,400 children attended early years provision that was not yet good. Through this consultation, we aim to raise expectations and tackle weaker settings from this September. It is open for comment until 24 May 2013.

Features

Childcare providers on domestic premises can publish their contact details on Ofsted’s website – All childcare providers on domestic premises can now give their consent to have their names, addresses and telephone numbers published on the Ofsted website.

Childminders have had this option since September last year, helping parents and carers to find their inspection reports more easily.

Good practice

Calling all dads – Sunbeam Children’s Centre has driven up rates of participation among fathers in the area through its ‘Dads-to-Be Project’. The fathers-to-be now play a more active role, preparing themselves for the birth of their child and the resulting changes to their family life.

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