Belvoir Park Primary School

Board of Governors

 

If culture is the personality of an organisation then a quality school is restless, constantly questioning, never satisfied, challenging norms and believing that things can always be better.

 

Revised School Development Plan 2007 -2010

following inspection October 2007

 

‘What the child can do in co-operation today he can do alone tomorrow.’

(Vygotsky 1934).


Evaluation of  2005 – 2007 SDP

The school has organised after-school activities for P3 – P7 classes. All teachers will be involved in helping with these activities.

·        The after-school classes were not successful for the Year 3 class as the children tired very quickly with the longer day.

·        To accommodate this promise we now offer Clubs on a Monday afternoon from 2.00 – 3.00pm for Year 3.

·        Key Stage 2 classes have clubs from 2.00 – 300 pm on Wednesday

·        Year 5 have music classes after school on Thursday from 3.00 – 4.00pm.

·        Years 6-7 have the chance to take part in soccer & hockey on Tuesday/Wednesday from 3.00 – 4.00pm.

Parents and children will be consulted in September 2005 in relation to procedures for positive behaviour.

·        Parents and children were consulted by questionnaire and no major issues were reported to governors.

·        A pupil council was set up in 2006.

·        Election for this year will be held next week.

·        We have no suspensions in the last two years.

From September 2005 learning outcomes will made clear at the outset of a lesson, reiterated during the course of the lesson and recapped at the end; throughout the lesson the children will be encouraged to give extended responses.

·        This formed part of PRSD and classroom observation carried out by the Principal and the co-ordinators in Literacy and Numeracy.

·        WALT is used in class.

·        WILF is being introduced this year.

The Key Stage 1 staff will update and develop a new structured play policy in consultation with the Nursery teachers.

·        The staff were advised that this would be inappropriate as Play-Based-Leaning would form part of training for the revised curriculum.

·        The new policy will be grown from Year1 throughout Foundation & KS1 over the next three years.

·        Nursery teachers have formed a close relationship with the Foundation staff.

·        A classroom is in the process of being converted to a play room to support Play-Based-Leaning.

The SENCO will provide training for all staff to ensure that IEP targets will be more specific in terms of learning goals for the children. Reviews of progress will be more detailed and evaluative. 

·        The SENCO & SENs teacher have worked with staff in this area to focus learning.

·        IEP review discussions are more structured with substitute staff being employed to cover staff.

·        Mrs Martin is employed as a 2.5 days per week SENs teacher.

·        Mrs Hill is employed 1 day to support individual pupils.

·        Mrs Crawford is our EAL teacher.

·        SENCO/SENs Teacher & Principal meet to evaluate progress.

·        NSPCC counsellor supports children.

The school will analyse more systematically all of the available data, and use it to measure and evaluate the children’s progress and achievements.

·        NFER scores are used and the Maths co-ordinator has been trained in the analysis of the scores.

·        All staff have been trained by the Co-ordinator.

·        All staff have been trained to analyse CCEA data.

An action plan will be developed in Numeracy that clearly defines targets to effect improvement in the teaching and learning of mathematics.

·        The school has spent two years developing numeracy as a follow up to the Numeracy Strategy.

·        The Co-ordinator has been proactive in measuring the quality of teaching through classroom observation.

·        We have spent two years on the Raising Achievement In Numeracy Strategy.

·        An extensive report has been prepared and is available to interested parties.

 

 

From September 2005 teachers’ planning will be standardised with intended learning outcomes clearly identified. Opportunities for ICT, mental mathematics and links with other curricular areas will highlighted The learning activities will be differentiated to match the varying ability levels within the class.

·        We have standard planning sheets for short–term and daily notes.

·        Planning identifies opportunities for ICT.

·        Differentiation has been progressing steadily.

·        WALT is used to clarify learning intentions

 

Children’s oral contributions will be developed further to extend their ability to think and communicate mathematically.

·        The principal has used the DENI advice on communicating mathematically as part of INSET.

·        Staff were introduced to ACTS and De Bono to help prepare them for oral contributions.

·        Plenary sessions are used in class to aid communication.

There will be an improvement in the planning and practice for the integration of ICT to support learning, and to implement better the whole-school strategy for the development and progression of the children’s ICT capabilities. 

·        ICT training was given to all staff with specific reference to the CCEA requirements in ICT.

·        Unfortunately our C2K system was useless for most of 2006 -2007.

·        We now have new platforms and software.

·        Mr Smith is developing a new scheme of work as part of PQHNI.

·        Mrs Brown has volunteered to become network manager.

The school will embed and assess ICT across the curriculum, and provide more opportunities for the children across all the ICT strands. 

·        Children were using more ICT programs in class to support and present learning.

·        SEELB RAIN project gave pupils access to a rage of numeracy support material.

·        This unpredictability of the system curtailed our development last year.

 

The staff will have professional development in the use of ICT to enhance the children’s learning.

·        Staff were trained to use Internet, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Logo, and Roamer.

·        We have started to train staff in the use of the Interactive Whiteboard.

·        SEELB RAIN project gave us access to a rage of numeracy support material that was used in class.

·        This software will be reloaded next month unto the C2K system.

·        Schemes of work are word processed by staff.

·        We have developed an Intranet.

Curricular roles and responsibilities of the various members of staff, particularly the post-holders will be more closely defined in a job description.

·        Mr Tate did this as part of his PRSD.

·        Job descriptions have been developed for post-holders.

·        A new SMT is being formed shortly as the VP has retired. 

Monitoring the quality of teaching and learning will continue. First-hand evidence from the monitoring will inform the teaching and help improve further the learning. 

·        Principal, Literacy and Numeracy Co-ordinators watch teachers in class as part of PRSD.

·        RAIN project was a major project.

The school will use standardised scores and benchmarking data in order to determine the children’s progress and to set appropriate targets for further improvement.

·        As stated above this has been done.

·        CCEA opt-out policy invalidates information.

Dissemination of the existing good practice will be a feature of PRSD.

·        This has been done by various members of staff.

·        INSET has been delivered by a range of staff.

·        We have used some team-teaching and EPD support

Co-ordinators will be involved in monitoring and evaluating the quality of experiences and the standards reached in their respective areas of responsibility. There will be a sharper focus on the standards expected and achieved in each of the key stages.

·        Principal, Literacy and Numeracy Co-ordinators watch teachers in class as part of PRSD.

·        HOD in Nursery & SLD have also been involved in monitoring teaching.

Record folders for each child which contain copies of past reports and assessments will be extended to include records of achievement and samples of the children’s work.

·        Children’s reports are word processed by teachers.

·        They cover all areas of the curriculum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INSET 2005 -2007

ICT

·        ICT Learning Styles and Brain-Based-Learning.

·        Using LOGO & Using Roamer.

·        Using Word, Excel & PowerPoint.

·        Using the Internet.

Numeracy

·        Numeracy Strategy Final Year.

·        Numeracy Time  & Classroom Practice.

·        WALT & WILF.

·        Raising Achievement In Numeracy 2 Year Programme

·        Communicating Mathematically DENI Evaluating Mathematics 1999

Learning

·        Lessons for learning – Hughes.

·        Wait-Time in Lessons –Hughes.

·        The Intelligent School & Using Data – McGilchrist, Mysers & Reed.

·        Invitational Schools - Purkey  & Novak.

·        Activating Children’s Thinking Skills – McGuinness.

·        De Bono’s Thinking Hats

·        Primary Movement – McPhilips.

·        Metacognition

·        Metanoia

·        The Autonomous Learner – Vygotsky & Constructivist Theory of Learning.

·        Accelerated Learning Cycle- Smith.

·        Questioning Techniques – Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Literacy

·        What is the Literacy Strategy?

·        Learning Outcomes/Intentions.

·        Modelled, Shared & Guided Reading.

·        Using Big Books.

·        Shared Writing.

·        WALT & WILF.

 

Revised Curriculum

·        The proposals for the new curriculum to the Minister by CCEA.

·        The new groupings for the curriculum.

·        Physical Education in the Revised Curriculum.

·        CD ROM from CCEA on the Revised Curriculum.

·        PRSD related to New Curriculum.

·        Assessment for Learning CD ROM.

·        Year 1& 5 teachers trained by CCEA.

Heath Promoting School

·        Whole School Audit.

·        Developing a programme in school.

·        Link with outside agencies.

·        Evaluation.

·        School Council.

·        IFA link boys’ & girls’ soccer.

Extended School

·        We began with a programme related to SEELB & SEBT.

·        We moved on to setting up an After School Child Care Facility & Homework Club in conjunction with YMCA.

·        Games after school and competitive matches.

·        Linked to Belvoir Colts Soccer CLUB 2 nights per week.

·        Converted part of canteen to YMCA facility helped by Foyle Foundation.

·        CBC are proposing to place a playground on our site - SEELB has agreed to this subject to planning permission.

·        Dissolving Boundaries & Visit to Irish President.

·        Music lessons after school delivered by SEELB.

·        Playing-For-Peace Basketball

 

Co-0rdinators

 

World Around Us:

 

·        Reviewed our current practice

·        Developed a new policy and scheme of work in conjunction with specialist in this area.

 

Physical Education:

 

·        Using Val Sabin work to develop a gymnastics scheme of work.

·        Linked to outside agencies to teach PE.

 

Staff Further Professional Development

 

·        SLD - 2 teachers on Master’s Programme QUB.

·        SLD -1 teacher finished Master’s Programme QUB.

·        SLD – 1 teacher on Career Break to work on PHD.

·        SLD – Teachers & Classroom Assistants on ELKALAN course.

·        Main School 1 teacher on PQHNI

·        Main School 1 teacher applying for PQHNI

 

Good Practice

We have been singled out for good practice as follows:

·        Human Rights Teaching – Amnesty International Lift-Off Project

·        Health Promoting Schools – Health Promotion Agency

·        Extended Schools - RTU

·        RAIN Project - SEELB

·        Whole School Development - Robson Davison

·        Dissolving Boundaries

INSET Projects Staff have Attended or Supported