1. Voice and Vision Evening.
Finmere CE Primary School
October 2013

2. Objectives: To review the vision together
To consider the strengths and areas for development
To give a brief overview of attainment and progress
To work together to ensure further improvement

3. In 2012 parents wanted to know:
Where the school is ‘going?’
How is the teaching and school structure going to be in the future?
The progress and attainment – will my child reach their full potential?
Where should my child be?
How I can support my child with their learning?
Homework and how I can help?
Where the school has progressed to?
How will the school further improve?
How is the school adapting to changes in education (curriculum, Ofsted, structure)?
What resources does the school need?
How does the school remain inclusive?

4. Your view.
What are the school strengths?
What still needs developing?

5. Parent voice – (from the evening)
Strengths - Key messages:
Teaching head
Feels like a family
Communication – s, newsletters, fab!
Nice size – especially class numbers – excellent staff pupil ratio
Good relationships across all stake holders
Staff and children know each other well
Accessible & approachable – easy to find the right person
Staff on playground every morning
Phenomenal levels of support for children who need it
Everyone’s opinion is valid – all have a part to play
No one gets lost, everyone matters
Willingness to try new things
Supportive parents
Pupils taught by ability not age – mixture of different ages from reception to Y6, yet remaining with their friends

6. Strengths Continued .. Lots of outdoor learning – Tepee
Children have confidence in mixing with older children
Brass lessons for KS2
Inclusive Friday Assemblies
Opportunities for pupils to present, to perform, to ‘be special’
No bullying
FOFSA
Consistent staff members
Broad curriculum, including outdoor learning & music
We all love the homework
Personal care for all individual children
SEN Provision and support is excellent
Staff hear and respond well to specific issues – timely too
Creativity in teaching
Sweden – beginning of ‘Global’
Some progress of inclusivity – (but still needs development)

7. Parent voice - (from the evening)
Areas for development – Key messages:
Addition of a Pre-school/Nursery
More children whilst retaining the family feel
Possibly 3 classes
Profile of the school needs to be sold
Parents and teachers selling the school – myth busting
After school clubs – wrap around care
More men to help
Links with other small schools
Sports teams
More parent helpers
To understand SENco
All children have access to outdoor learning
Head lice extinction
Awareness of different cultures/ underprivileged
Would be good to hear more discussion with children and less direction – inc variety of view & opinion ‘in association with’

8. Your children said …. Strengths – Key messages:
Team work – community, working together, supporting each other
Respect – for each other, for our surroundings
Good teaching staff & Headteacher – fun, inspiration, creativity
Themes – broad & balanced curriculum
Choice & opportunity - able to do things we want to do
Responsibility – for our actions, learning
Charity – thinking of others, caring
Brass lessons – for 4 years

9. Your children said …. Areas for Development – Key messages:
Increase number of pupils – advertise the school
Increase the school day
Have more reflection spaces & time
Improve our listening skills, teamwork, work ethic, focus
Cooking lessons
Enter more competitions
No litter
School pet

10. In brief: 2013 standards rose even further
Attainment is in-line with National and Local Authority figures for reading , writing and maths (KS1 SATs & KS2 SATs Results)
Progress is in-line with National and Local Authority averages for reading , writing and maths
Significantly:
Over 1/3 of our pupils exceeded HT challenging targets for reading
Almost 1/3 of our pupils exceeded HT challenging targets for writing
Below 1/3 of our pupils exceeded HT challenging targets for maths

11. What makes a good learner?

12. Parent Voice – (from the meeting)
A good listener
Interest
Presentation
Environment – use it to learn & be inspired by it
Questions
Confidence – to explore, to make mistakes, to ask questions, to make a statement
Knowing how to ask a question
Research – you expand knowledge
Encouragement
Recall – facts & application of facts
Record
Ability to make statements
Well rested & well fed
Inquisitiveness – curiosity
A good teacher – encouraging & supportive

13. Parent voice continued …
Stamina & resilience
Self fulfilment & sense of achievement (rather than to please others)
Confidence to challenge (e.g. authority - life skills – needing to constructively challenge appropriately
Different methods of learning/ routes to understanding
Support from home – class - school – teachers – peers
Comfortable and safe in themselves and in their environment
The only ‘criticism’ should be constructive
Be acknowledged/engaged/valued
Open minded
Eager
Having the right resources
Having enough time
Not being over-whelmed
Relaxed
Learning at own pace
Being able to fiddle

14. Your children said … Key Messages: Taking responsibility
Learning objectives & success criteria
Showing interest – joining in
Understanding what to do
Being brave to make mistakes and learning from them
Having someone to discuss work with
Listening
Having a clear mind
Fresh air
A good nights sleep
Healthy diet

15. What stops learning?

16. Your children said … Key messages: Not concentrating Sleep deprivation
Food – not enough, or not good enough
Uncomfortable shoes
Confusion
People being silly
People shouting out and making the lesson stop, or delayed lesson starts
Too many opinions
Too many choices

17. A word from your Chair of Governors ….
Key messages:
Strong leadership
Effective teaching
Strong community spirit
Confident, polite, well rounded pupils
Opportunities for each and every child to shine – (performances, presentations, sport, attainment & progress)
Won Bicester Film Festival
Strong links with Sweden
Leading training for 5 other schools re: Whole School Themes and the Creative Curriculum
LA judgement: Good

18. Success Criteria: Is our vision renewed?
Do we know and understand our strengths and areas for development?
Do we have an understanding of the attainment and progress achieved?
Can we work together to ensure further improvement?

19. Addition questions – (from the evening)
How can parents help their children be confident in their abilities and apply their knowledge? E.g. less about ‘how to’ more about application.
Let parents know about ‘helping opportunities’ e.g. with cooking and occasional things as well as regular support like reading.
On website suitable website for supported learning
Porridge at 10:30 – 11:00 for little ones