Delivering Excellence Together - The Kemnal Academies Trust EYFS Development Project

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Early Excellence Case Study

Delivering Excellence Together Sharing Successful School Improvement

The Kemnal Academies Trust EYFS Development Project

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Early Excellence

Delivering Excellence Together

Contextual Information

iew of this Explore the OvervProject Trust Wide

The Kemnal Academies Trust is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South and South East of England. There are a total of 45 academies, of which 29 are primary schools, 15 are secondary schools and 1 is a special school. Several of the primary schools include nursery provision.

In many Kemnal Academy Trust schools, the proportion of pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium, those with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is above the national average.

Children often begin their EYFS journey with skills and knowledge that are below age-related expectations.

The Bespoke Plan • • •

•

• • •

Trust Conference - focused on National Updates and Maths Strategic Review of each school’s EYFS with written report 2 training sessions for Senior Leaders reflecting on: – Early Child Development – Understanding the EYFS – Key Principles of Effective Assessment in the EYFS – Accurate Quality Assurance in the EYFS – Effective Transition and the Power of Parent Partnership 3 twilight training sessions for the EYFS teams to consider: – Effective Practice in the EYFS – The EYFS ‘Shop Window’ – Supporting Transitions Trust wide access to ‘Step-by-Step’ Training videos and resources Online recorded training: ‘Let’s Explore Effective Teaching in the EYFS’ Bespoke support for individual schools

Early Excellence

Delivering Excellence Together

Project Intent & Implementation I was delighted when Trust Primary Director, Sue Brown, from The Kemnal Academies Trust, initially reached out to explore how Early Excellence could offer support across the whole Trust for their EYFS improvement plans.

During our initial discussion, there were a number of key priorities identified including strategic support for senior leaders to effectively understand, support and accurately quality assure their EYFS, training to upskill the EYFS teams to transform practice and provision, strengthening mathematics in the EYFS and the development of planning for an effective Continuous Provision environment.

Guided by the context and aims of the Trust, Phil Armstrong, Senior Education Lead at Early Excellence, launched the partnership project, leading the annual EYFS Trust Conference.

Curriculum Consultant Anna Caulfield then undertook a series of strategic reviews across all of the schools, before implementing the onward programme of support through bespoke consultancy and tailored training, to compliment the work of the Trust EYFS Leads.

Feedback from the Trust has been overwhelmingly positive, with some amazing comments from Sue, the Trust EYFS Leads and other Senior Leaders about the impact on standards. We are very much looking forward to continuing our partnership with The Kemnal Academy Trust this coming year.

Best Wishes

Nikki Walters Nikki Walters Head of School Services Early Excellence

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Early Excellence

Delivering Excellence Together

Evaluating the Impact What was it like to work with Early Excellence?

How Effective was the Training & Consultancy?

What was the Impact at The Mill Primary Academy?

“Working with Early Excellence has been amazing – a true partnership!

“The support was very effective – there has been a rise in expectations in all of our schools!

“The CPD, review and support was such high quality - we were able to act on the advice and training immediately!

The combination of training for staff in a range of roles from practitioners to school leaders was invaluable. We now have an agreed understanding of what a good EYFS looks like.

Anna offered very practical guidance, so changes to the setting could be put in place rapidly.

There has been strong professional dialogue throughout the work, reviewing outcomes together and adjusting CPD to target the right areas.

Anna is highly experienced, professional, flexible and responsive.

Both she and Phil are true experts, offering clear principled messages and bespoke advice pertinent to each individual school context.

The work was carefully structured, planned and well-paced - it has made a real difference.”

Placing the training spotlight on the Continuous Provision across the Trust has bought consistency, while the individual bespoke school action plans ensured focus and clarity to secure developments.”

al truction s in , r a d, cle ell-pace ing and “The w inspiring train offered by ies and portunit the bedrock p o t n e n developm llence have bee ents” e c vem x o Early E ur many impr for o

Early Excellence were on hand throughout our journey, from helpful discussions, suggestions and even helping with the ordering resources process!

Our Trust Lead and Anna worked together with us seamlessly - we have been supported constantly throughout and are delighted with the results.”

Early Excellence

Delivering Excellence Together

ased with the le p y ll a re re e’ W “ the children and engagement of lt interactions” quality of adu

be aching to e t d e t if h We have s er led and more less teach he provision, within t r pupils to be g ou supportin ent learners” independ

Our Children

Our Environment

Our Adults

“The children’s independence, “The redesign of the classrooms “Working with Early Excellence confidence and communication and all areas of provision meant has utterly transformed our EYFS skills were key concerns ahead of that every single child made Team! They are empowered, have the project, but these have progress! confidence and know their stuff! improved vastly!

It’s been a joy to see the level of Now, they make well timed We’re very proud that our GLD independence in our children. decisions and interactions for was 80% and the knowledge and They engage positively with their and with the children to skills were securely embedded. peers and the adults. Everything effectively move learning on. has a place and purpose, so their The children joined Year 1 ready learning is more meaningful.

Drawing on the CPD, their and able to learn, they cope with engagements with families have change, are happy and engaged.

The classrooms are now calm, fun, been strengthened. They can This would not have been the stimulating and engaging. It even explain how parents can support case without the improvements feels like we have more space!” at home, and the response to this made due to working with Early has been positive.”

Excellence.”

Early Excellence

Delivering Excellence Together

Contextual Information

iew of this Explore the OvervProject Trust Wide

The Kemnal Academies Trust is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South and South East of England. There are a total of 45 academies, of which 29 are primary schools, 15 are secondary schools and 1 is a special school. Several of the primary schools include nursery provision.

In many Kemnal Academy Trust schools, the proportion of pupils eligible for the Pupil Premium, those with English as an Additional Language (EAL) and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is above the national average.

Children often begin their EYFS journey with skills and knowledge that are below age-related expectations.

The Bespoke Plan • • •

•

• • •

Trust Conference - focused on National Updates and Maths Strategic Review of each school’s EYFS with written report 2 training sessions for Senior Leaders reflecting on: – Early Child Development – Understanding the EYFS – Key Principles of Effective Assessment in the EYFS – Accurate Quality Assurance in the EYFS – Effective Transition and the Power of Parent Partnership 3 twilight training sessions for the EYFS teams to consider: – Effective Practice in the EYFS – The EYFS ‘Shop Window’ – Supporting Transitions Trust wide access to ‘Step-by-Step’ Training videos and resources Online recorded training: ‘Let’s Explore Effective Teaching in the EYFS’ Bespoke support for individual schools