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Bexton Primary School’s Strategic Review of the EYFS
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Delivering Excellence Together
Contextual Information Bexton Primary School is a two-form entry primary school in Cheshire, with a Nursery provision comprising of two rooms for 2–3 year olds and one room for 3–4 year olds. There are 2 Reception Classes. Katie Parker is Assistant Head and EYFS Lead, and Kirsty Ruff is Nursery Manager and SENDCO. The two Reception classrooms each have a teacher and teaching assistant, with an outdoor area available for free flow. The Pre-school room has a class teacher supported by key workers. The Nursery has 80 children on roll, and across the EYFS 8% of children have an EHCP.
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Included in this Strategic Review – C ontextual information sharing with Leadership Team – Review of Reception and Nursery provision both indoor & outdoor – Engagement with children in provision & capture of their ‘voice’ – Regular dialogue with the EYFS Leader – Time with Nursery Manager – Curriculum discussion & exploration of documents – Exploration of work samples, learning journals & floor books – Verbal feedback session with Leadership Team – Written report following visit
Early Excellence
Delivering Excellence Together
Project Intent & Implementation Assistant Head and EYFS Leader Katie Parker got in touch with Early Excellence to commission an EYFS Strategic Review. Following a successful Ofsted inspection, the EYFS staff had changed over time, and the Leadership Team wanted expert external support to quality assure the whole phase from their 2 Year Old Provision through to Reception. We worked collaboratively to craft a review day to offer a breadth of evaluation about the phase, whilst incorporating the school’s specific requests to spotlight consistency, adult interactions and progression. Our School Improvement Lead, Sarah Carey, led the Strategic Review and Katie arranged to be available throughout most of the day to work alongside her. The day started with a meeting invloving the whole Leadership Team and closed with a shared feedback session about the areas of strength, next steps and rationale for recommendations. Just take a look at Katie’s comments about the impact of working with Early Excellence for just one day as part of the Strategic Review and the school’s onward journey of development to strengthen practice and provision across the phase. Best Wishes,
Nikki Walters Nikki Walters Head of School Services
“I found the Strategic Review day so helpful and supportive. I will definitely be recommending it to other EYFS colleagues!”
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Delivering Excellence Together
Evaluating the Impact How effective was the Strategic Review?
How useful were the Findings & Feedback?
What was the impact on Teaching & Learning?
“The whole day was exceptional “The feedback was clear, “The recommendations have really we explored such a lot, in great constructive and invaluable! helped us to drive forward with detail! There was a focus on the Sarah visits so many schools across important next steps. key pillars of effective practice the country, so her advice carried which incorporated our scope - a real weight. We’ve sharpened our long-term close look at consistency, curriculum planning, particularly progression and adult interactions The summary session with SLT was spotlighting progression, which is reflective and thought-provoking. across the EYFS provision. now stronger across the whole We could also immediately take phase and is appropriately the positives back to staff and Working alongside a specialist challenging for our children. celebrate. For every development throughout the day was brilliant point, the reasoning and the CPD — seeing exactly what to The curriculum developments benefit to children was provided, look for and consider. We had have also helped the EYFS team which made it so much easier to such engaging and rich, to recognise the connection share with staff and bring them on professional conversations. between curriculum planning and the journey with us. the provision offer. There is a As leaders, we gained a real greater understanding of the We’ve used the report to shape clarity in the ‘why’ behind quality of provision needed to our improvement planning.” everything we do.” give children the very best possibilities for learning.”
eview was a R ic g te ra t S “The pportunity to wonderful o h an expert! It wit collaborate ble to spotlight the a was so valu S phase, celebrate whole EYF gain clear advice d strengths an steps to develop.” t x e about n
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Delivering Excellence Together
ld t our small wor “The advice aboun our children so areas have give portunities for many more op aginative play.” im storytelling and
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Our Children
Our Environment
Our Adults
“Priority next steps were carefully “ The suggested developments “We’ve all gained knowledge! explained and have had a were manageable and meaningful. Practitioners, key workers and significant impact for our children. One outcome of the review was teachers have deepened their to evaluate resource continuity understanding of the The improvements we’ve made to and progression across the environment, curriculum and the provision have meant more whole EYFS. progression. There’s a shared opportunities for creativity and understanding of and the purposeful play, with high-quality Now, each resource has earnt its importance of consistency for resources that challenge place – we all know exactly why the children. children’s thinking. it’s there! Adult interactions have been Even one small change - adding This work has ensured clear strengthened, with our new more fairytale characters to progression and challenge for vocabulary progression plan. small world - has opened up children, helped SLT know what much richer storytelling.” to expect to see when visiting As leaders we’ve gained real classrooms and why, and given clarity in our next steps. We built staff real clarity on expectations.” a clear plan and have worked steadily to it.”
Is strengthening EYFS or KS1 pedagogy your current priority? Engage with expert consultancy & explore bespoke support today To find out how Early Excellence can support your school development priorities in EYFS and KS1 or develop a bespoke package, take a look at our school improvement services online or get in touch with a member of our Senior Team today.
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