1

Laurieston

Primary School

Standards and Quality

Report

2016

2

Dear Parent/Carer, As you will probably know, each year the government and Falkirk Council publish information designed to show how well schools and local authorities are improving pupil performance and achievement. In similar fashion, we in Laurieston PS would like to tell you how we are progressing in our school. This leaflet has been designed to do just that. It is our ‘Standards and Quality Report’ for session 2015-2016. Inside, you will find a brief description of our main achievements during the session. I have also outlined the school’s main priorities for next session. I hope you find this leaflet helpful. If you have any questions about it, please do not hesitate to phone the school office for an appointment. I will be pleased to offer clarification.

Linda McAlpineLinda McAlpineLinda McAlpineLinda McAlpine Headteacher

3

OUR PRIORITIES FOR ACTION 2015-16 1. To improve the quality of learning and teaching by a) implementing a whole school approach to teaching thinking skills – Making Thinking Visible. b) developing Inter-Disciplinary Learning. 2. To fully implement our new Health and Wellbeing curriculum and achieve Rights Respecting School status. 3. To improve problem-solving in maths. 4. To develop children’s higher order reading skills and improve skills progression in Talking and Listening. 5. To further develop approaches to self-evaluation in the nursery class and fully establish our new 2s room providing effective early learning and childcare for 2 year olds. 6. To introduce the teaching of French from Primary 1.

4

1. Learning and Teaching To implement a whole school approach to teaching thinking skills, “Making Thinking Visible”, and to develop Interdisciplinary Learning.

Progress All teachers undertook training on the “Making Thinking Visible” approach which had been developed at Harvard University. Miss Fotheringham was the lead teacher in this development and received professional recognition from GTC Scotland for leading this project at Laurieston. Teachers shared ideas, lessons and resources throughout the programme. They evaluated their use of the routines and discussed effectiveness across stages. This year has focused on experimentation of use of the thinking routines. Next session staff plan to build on this and work to develop a whole school culture of thinking. As a result of our work in this area, staff now teach children a range of

thinking routines teaching to develop children’s thinking skills and

understanding. Children can talk about what the approaches they use to

think for understanding and their learning is improved. Children’s

Interdisciplinary Learning experiences are progressive, purposeful and

children are becoming confident in discussing the relevance of their

learning. All children contribute to planning their learning. They are

more confident in talking about what they are learning, how well they are

progressing and what they need to do to improve.

5

2. Health and Wellbeing To fully implement our new Health and Wellbeing curriculum and achieve Rights Respecting School status. Progress Our new Health and Wellbeing curriculum has been fully implemented across the school. Next session it will be developed further as all schools in the Graeme High Cluster use a common resource, “Knowing Me, Knowing You” to support social and emotional skills development. All children are now aware of the national wellbeing indicators and senior pupils have used these for self-evaluation. In May 2016, following an assessment visit by UNICEF representative, Laurieston School was awarded Rights Respecting School Level 1 status. As a result of our work in this area, children have a good understanding

of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child rights and

what it means for them. This rights respecting approach is firmly

embedded in the ethos and life our school.

6

3. Problem Solving in Maths To improve problem-solving in maths. Progress A whole school approach and planned progression to teaching problem solving strategies has been developed and agreed. This highlights the problem solving strategies which will be taught across the school. In 2016-17 the implementation of this approach will be a priority as we work to improve children’s attainment in maths by teaching them the strategies to apply their numeracy skills to a range of contexts. As a result of our work in this area, staff have agreed key problem

solving strategies which will be taught at Laurieston and will be fully

implemented in August 2016.Children have begun to be introduced to

these strategies which will support them to apply their numeracy skills in

context.

7

4. Improvements in Literacy To develop children’s higher order reading skills and improve skills progression in Talking and Listening. Progress The Thinking Reader approach to teaching reading skills has been fully implemented across the school. At P5-P7 this has been supported by a new teaching resource, CSI Reading, which supports children to apply their skills. All teachers, Early Years Officers and Support Staff participated in training sessions with Speech and Language Therapy staff. This training focussed on approaches to developing and improving children’s oral communication and learning new strategies for developing children’s skills in listening and talking. As part of the Graeme Schools’ cluster we submitted a successful bid to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Fund. This will fund an innovative project in 2016-17 and help us build on our work to raise attainment in literacy. As a result of our work in this area, there is now an effective whole

school approach teach reading skills and strategies. As a result children

are aware of and most can name strategies used. The CSI resource in P5-

P7 has proved an effective resource in supporting teachers in this explicit

teaching of reading skills. Moderation of approaches has supported the

sharing of standards across the school. However as the children move

through the school there is evidence that (despite author visits and

participation in Scottish Book Trust Awards) fewer choose to read for

pleasure or engage in extend periods of independent reading. This an

area we will address in 2016-17 to further raise attainment in Reading

and Writing. All teachers, EYOs and support staff now have improved

understanding of the development of children’s oral language and how to

support this using a range of strategies and resources which are now

available in school. This will be built on as part of an innovative Scottish

Government funded project in 2016-17.

8

5. Nursery Class Our goal was to further develop approaches to self-evaluation in the nursery class and fully establish our new 2s’ room providing effective early learning and childcare for 2 year olds. Progress The new format for children’s 6 monthly reviews has been implemented in the nursery class and the 2s room. All staff have taken part in peer evaluations of early years practice. A new self-evaluation format for the nursery staff to use was implemented and staff are also now familiar with the new national self-evaluation guidance in “How Good is Our Early Learning and Childcare?” Changes have been made to nursery floor books as a result of evaluation feedback. There is an increased variety of opportunities for parents to engage with nursery including through self-evaluation, events and Stay and Play sessions. The entrance areas in both the 2s’ room and 3-5 room have been developed to include more accessible information for parents. The 2s’ room, including its outdoor area, is now fully established.

As a result of our work in this area, there are more effective systems in

place for consultation with parents and also for involving all

stakeholders in evaluating nursery practice. There has been

improvement in the effectiveness of nursery floor books. Our 2s’ room is

now fully established and provides effective early learning and childcare

for 2 year olds.

9

6. French To introduce the teaching of French from Primary 1. Progress Our P1 teacher was trained in using the FLAME (Foreign Language

as Medium for Education) approach to teaching French. All P1 children have been taught French this year and this will continue into P2. Children at P4-P7 were also taught French throughout this session and this will continue to be built on as part of the Graeme Schools’ cluster approach to teaching French As a result of our work in this area, there is a greater awareness of using

the French language learning across the school and our progress is in

line with national timetable for introducing a second language to all

children. Primary 1 have learned French using the FLAME approach,

with the language being taught within the context if classroom activities.

PRIORITIES FOR ACTION 2016-17

1. To raise attainment in Literacy and Numeracy. 2. To develop children’s skills for learning, life and work and develop a whole school “Culture of thinking.” 3. To improve children’s emotional health and well-being through introducing a Nurturing School approach and a shared approaches to social and emotional skills development as part of the Graeme Schools’ Cluster. 4. To introduce Success Storybooks (and Falkirk Council Early Years’ Progression Pathways in Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing) in Nursery Class to improve progression in children’s learning and raise attainment.

10

WIDER SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2015-16

• Following a whole day visit by a UNICEF assessor, we were awarded Level 1 Rights Respecting School status in May 2016.

• In June 2016 we successfully renewed our Eco-Schools Green Flag Award status.

• In March 2016 all children in P4-P7 participated in two sell-out performances of “Pirates of the Currybean”, their second senior

school musical.

• Laurieston pupils participated in Falkirk Council’s 2016 Day of Dance.

• Our Glee choir, with children from P2-P7, participated in Falkirk’s first ever School Glee Choir competition in Falkirk Town Hall. Our

choir won the “Esprit de Glee” award.

• The Laurieston School team won the local Inter-School Quiz which was organised by the Rotary Club.

• Pupils participated in author visits from Lari Don, Gillian Philip, Abi Elphinstone, Lyn McNichol and Laura Jackson.

• Almost all P7 pupils attended a very successful outdoor education residential week to Dalguise.

• A team of P6 pupils participated in the Falkirk-wide heat of the national Euro Quiz.

• P5 participated in the Fish in the Classroom Project.

• P6 participated in the “Max in the Middle” Project with NHS Forth Valley staff.

• All P5 children participated in Bikeability Level 1 training led by Mrs Campbell and Mrs Girdwood.

11

• P6 participated in a STEM project where they looked at the role of engineers in society. They interviewed visiting engineers before

developing their own ideas in response to the question “If you were an engineer in Scotland, what would you do?” The work of two pupils received a distinction award and was shown in a national exhibit in

Glasgow.

• Pupils organised and participated in various fundraising events for charity: e.g. Macmillan Coffee Morning, Children in Need, Sport Relief

2016, Bring and Buy sale for Water Aid.

• P7 organised a Burns Supper for parents and invited guests.

• Pupils participated and achieved success in a range of sporting activities, including our football team winning the Falkirk Round Table

7- aside competition.

• Ongoing valued links have been maintained with senior citizens at Laurieston Old People’s Welfare Association.

• Our Rota- Kids group worked in partnership with representatives from Polmont Rotary Club raising awareness of International Malaria

Day, fundraising and participating in a national Rota-Kids event.

12

SCHOOL AIMS AND VALUES

AIMS At Laurieston Primary School we aim: 1. To create a welcoming ethos where everyone in our school community is valued and actively encouraged to contribute to the life of the school and where achievements are recognised and celebrated. 2. To raise achievement by providing high quality teaching and learning experiences which motivate and challenge children and are responsive to their learning needs.

3. To provide a curriculum that helps to prepare children for an ever changing society and develop their skills for learning, life and work. 4. To involve parents/carers as partners in their child’s education and promote the school as an integral part of the local and wider community.

5. To promote the health and wellbeing of children and staff.

Through living our values and addressing these aims our children will become confident individuals, effective contributors, responsible citizens and successful learners.

OUR CORE VALUES Respect, Responsibility, Ambition and Achievement for All.

Laurieston Primary School

School Road

Laurieston

FK2 9JA

01324 508620

www.laurieston.falkirk.sch.uk