School Improvement Plan

At St. Peter’s C.E. Primary School we aim to unlock the potential inside each and every unique individual and we strive for pupils, parents, staff and governors to work tirelessly in partnership to achieve this.  Our ‘Home School Agreement’ outlines the partnership and commitment required to realise our school vision founded in our mission statement:

“Hand in hand we journey together, guided by God.”

Our School Improvement Plan (SIP) is central to this work and sets out the strategic goals that we want to achieve over a one or two-year period.  Where possible, School Improvement Priorities are linked to the four key judgement areas of the Education Inspection Framework and the SIAMS Evaluation Schedule.   

Across the years, all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to these priorities.  In the Summer term 2022, parents and carers were asked to complete a short questionnaire to share their views on their child’s school report and other elements of school life at St. Peter’s.  The views of our families are extremely important to us and help shape the future of our school.

Below you can find an outline of some of our current strategic goals.  We have shared some of the actions we are taking in order to achieve these, and how you can support the school and your child in order to meet our goals. 

1. Improve attainment and progress in phonics through the implementation of an agreed SSP programme. 

What will change this year?

• We will be implementing a new Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) programme called ‘Little Wandle Letters & Sounds Revised’ in EYFS and Key Stage 1.
• New reading books will gradually be rolled out to support the programme, some of which will be sent home.
• All teaching and support staff will take part in a programme of continued professional development.
• New approaches to assessment and tracking of progress in phonics will be implemented.
• The school policy and website will be updated to reflect any changes to both phonics and early reading.

How can parents and carers help?

• Although your child will be taught to read at school, you can have a huge impact on their reading journey by continuing their practice at home. Please continue to read little and often.
• All parents are asked to help create a positive environment for home learning. You should encourage and support your child to complete any additional activities, such as phonics or spellings, that are sent home.
• There will be a number of workshops and briefing events for parents and carers this academic year, including a phonics briefing. Reception and Year 1 parents are actively encouraged to attend.
• ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised’ also have a page for parents and carers with resources and videos to help support with reading and writing sound at home: www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents

2. Ensure that the school’s curriculum intent and implementation are embedded securely and consistently across the school and in all subject, inc. core principles and approaches to ensure progression for all learners in reading, writing and mathematics.

What will change this year?

• Class teachers and subject leaders will continue to tweak and adapt planning to ensure that the knowledge and skills that all pupils are expected to learn and build upon over time are clearly mapped out.
• We will maintain our commitment to enrichment (for example visits, visitors and leadership opportunities) in order to further develop our wider curriculum provision.
• Governors and school leaders will engage in monitoring across the year including talking to children about: the knowledge they have learnt; the progress they have made; and how they have applied their skills in other ways.
• We will revisit our agreed principles, expectations and approaches to reading, writing and mathematics and identify any additional training that might be required.
• The expectations for displays; resources; and independent recording will be reviewed to ensure that they fully support our curriculum intent and implementation.

How can parents and carers help?

• Use the curriculum letters and homework menus to discuss with your child the topic themes they are learning about at school and ways in which this can be supported at home.  
• There are a number of online resources, either free or purchased by the school, that support the curriculum. Numbots in Key Stage 1 and Times Tables Rockstars in Key Stage 2 are just two examples.  Please encourage your child to make use of these.
• Respond promptly to all school communication including, if able, contributing to the cost of any visits and visitors.
• Another mathematics workshop will be held and all parents and carers are encouraged to attend. Following its success in 2019, this time we will focus upon the teaching of multiplication and division.
• More information about ‘Home Learning’ can be found here.

3. All stakeholders share consistently high expectations for the attendance, punctuality, behaviour and conduct of all pupils, particularly the most vulnerable.

What will change this year?

• Overall school attendance last academic year was under the governor target and recognised ‘good’ rate of 96%. All staff will continue to champion good attendance and challenge long periods of absence or repeated absence so that poor patterns of attendance do not develop or re-occur.
• Staff Meeting and lesson time will be dedicated to reviewing and improving learning behaviours of all pupils.
• Classroom environments will reflect a focus on good learning behaviours and the development of a growth mindset with agreed displays and prompts.
• The Behaviour for Learning Policy will be updated to reflect any changes and a new ‘child friendly’ version will be developed with the school council. This will support all pupils in becoming more familiar with the language of expected and unexpected behaviour with a focus upon the impact on themselves and others.
• Additional provision and nurture groups will continue to be provided for identified pupils struggling to meet expectations for attendance and behaviour.

How can parents and carers help?

• Ensure your child attends school every day and is punctual.
• Support the school and your child by talking about the choices that they make and school expectations.
• If you have any questions or concerns, make an appointment to speak to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible.
• All parents are actively encouraged to attend the ‘Safe Digital Life’ webinar.
• More information about ‘Attendance’ can be found here.
• More information about ‘Behaviour & Safety’ can be found here.

4. Further promote the wider personal development of pupils including meaningful opportunities for them to understand how to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who are ready to tackle the challenges of life.

What will change this year?

• After two years of teaching the new RHSE curriculum, staff will undertake a review to ensure there is balance and consistency between terms, topics and year groups.
• The planned programme of daily collective worship will continue to reflect: the Christian calendar; our school vision, values & ethos; and a focus on equality & diversity
• Following the relaunch of pupil voice last year, each group have a specific focus and agreed longer term aim to work towards.
• Where possible, further opportunities for all stakeholders to become more actively involved in collective worship and the prayer life of the school will be investigated.

How can parents and carers help?

• If possible, please attend as many of our special events as possible, including services at the church, our homework celebration and other events. Please support the school and the community. 
• Talk to your child about the leadership opportunities that they have been presented with, or how they might like to become involved in the running of their school in the future.
• Class teachers are often looking for additional help during the school day or on school visits. If you think that you may be able to offer some time to help, please speak to Ms Griffin in the school office so that a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check can be completed.