EDUCATION & CHILDREN’S SERVICES
IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2014 - 2015
FOR
DURRIS SCHOOL
&
CROSSROADS NURSERY
Aberdeenshire Council Education & Children’s Services
“Our vision is for an Aberdeenshire in which everyone is able to develop the skills and
confidence needed for learning, life and work.”
At Durris School/Crossroads Nursery
We are committed to being an excellent school community in which
everyone is respected and valued, stimulated and supported in a caring
environment, enabling all to achieve their very best.
In Durris School our vision is the driving force behind all our improvement activity.
Education & Children’s Service’s Quality Improvement Framework, is the overarching
strategic management tool which directs and supports school improvement in
establishments across Aberdeenshire. At the heart of the framework is the belief that self
evaluation in each school drives improvement and all improvement is aimed at delivering
positive outcomes for children and young people.
“Self evaluation is a reflective, professional process through which schools get to know
themselves well…Improvement Planning builds on that self knowledge by involving us in
understanding and valuing the best of that which already exists, deciding how good we
can really be, and identifying the best way forward.
The Journey to Excellence Part 4: Planning for Excellence, HMIe, 2007
Self-evaluation is an on-going process and involves all stakeholders, including our pupils.
It is reported annually to parents/carers in our Standards and Quality Report.
Education & Children’s Service Improvement Cycle
Self evaluation to find out
where you have to go
Review/
Re-affirm vision
Identify
priorities and
specify
outcomes
Self evaluation to
ensure
stakeholders
commitment
Self evaluation to
determine impact
Check to
ensure impact
Take action
Self evaluation to monitor
and determine progress
The priorities for improvement contained in the Improvement Plan for 2014 – 15 reflect this
process and the priorities identified locally and nationally.
Page 2 of 10
Improvement Plan
Crossroads Nursery
Improvement Priority No.
1
Literacy focus
Intended Outcome (s) / Impact



Actions / Lead member of staff
Further development of literacy curriculum indoors
and out
Create a literacy rich environment
Continue to further enhance teaching and learning
in literacy
Audit current practice – Mrs Moyes/Mrs Reilly
Audit resources
Re-catalogue library
Create story sacks (involve parents)
Refresh knowledge of planning/good practice
Timescales
Collegiate
sessions identified
in 2014/15
collegiate
calendar
Monitoring of
classroom
practice – QA
calendar
How will you measure success?
Literacy rich environment
Catalogued stories
Collegiate minutes
Story sacks available and evaluated – feedback from children and parents
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 3 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
Crossroads Nursery
Expressive Arts
2
Intended Outcomes



Actions (Nursery Staff)
To develop learning and teaching of expressive
arts
To further create opportunities for music, drama,
dance and art indoors and out
To further develop partnerships to support with this
(Woodend Barn, Kidglove puppets, etc)
Audit of current practice to identify development needs for
staff/ resources
CPD opportunities (if appropriate) – Aberdeenshire
Events website/ In house support using Visiting Specialist
resource
Visits to other nursery to observe recognised good
practice
Timescales
Collegiate
sessions identified
in 2014/15
collegiate
calendar
Monitoring of
classroom
practice – QA
calendar
How will you measure success?
Discussion of nursery staff planning
CPD records
Monitoring of classroom practice
Photos/videos/performances
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 4 of 10
Improvement Plan
Crossroads Nursery
Improvement Priority No.
3
Intended Outcomes




Actions (Nursery Staff)
Progress the effective and creative use of ICT to
develop the skills for learning, life and work
Developing ways to use ICT so that it is at the
heart of learning
Enhancement of learning and teaching using ICT
Progress effective use of GLOW in nursery and for
parents



Teachers planning for effective use of ICT
Identify development areas in use of technologies
in nursery and plan innovative ways to deliver
their use
Re-visit audit – any gaps still to be filled. Create
final wish list for HT
Timescales
Collegiate
sessions identified
in 2014/15
collegiate
calendar
Monitoring of
classroom
practice – QA
calendar
How will you measure success?
Additional technologies in place and being used
Monitoring of classroom practice
Photos/videos/
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 5 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
4
Co-operative Learning
Intended Outcomes
Actions
Build on the 4 days training all teaching staff have had
Teaching staff with working knowledge of the principles / basic
elements on which cooperative learning is based
Agreed strategies being used in classes/embedding of these in
classroom practice
Improvement in pupils’ confidence, collaborative working and
accountability
PSAs familiar with the principles of CL
Bank of resources/planning format available
Look at a variety of ways of team building / establishing team
identity/celebrations so that there are fresh, new ideas as the
children move through the school
Model /discuss methods of structuring cooperative learning
lessons/ tasks to support effective small group learning
Explore teaching of social skills in cooperative learning
situations
Introduce cooperative learning lesson plan. Class teachers to
use this to structure cooperative learning lessons.
Share good practice / evaluations with other staff members
Share development with parents
Monitor progress of development / evaluate impact.
Timescales
Collegiate sessions
identified
throughout 2014/15
Class room
monitoring/peer
visits in QA
calendar
How will you measure success?
Staff confidence - Monitoring of forward plans; staff self -evaluation of learning and teaching/ peer observations/support
Improved pupil learning/ Improved collaborative working and intergroup relations – teacher, PSA observations of children
Greater intrinsic motivation
Greater social interaction / mutual support
Improved confidence/self -esteem - learning conversations with pupils
Development of higher order thinking skills
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 6 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
5
Global Citizenship
Intended Outcomes
Actions
To have a shared purpose in whole school involvement in
global citizenship
To develop and broaden the curriculum to ensure stimulating
learning experiences in crosscutting themes of global
dimension
To use the Global Dimension as a context for active learning.
To develop cooperative learning skills thus empowering our
pupils to become more independent learners, more effective
team workers and more effective members of society.
To help our pupils become responsible global citizens, who
recognise and understand that they live in an interdependent
global society.
To build, in our learners, concepts of human rights, diversity,
conflict resolution, social justice, interdependence and
sustainable development.
To offer learners opportunities to reflect on, and develop
attitudes, skills and values.
Audit current practices and provisions to see how we can add
a global dimension to existing programmes of study.
Recognise and develop existing good practice. Investigate and
make available appropriate staff development opportunities
Developing discussion and enquiry skills with a focus on global
issues.
Ensure stimulating learning experiences in crosscutting
themes of global dimension
Recognise and celebrate global links within the school and
internationally.
Hold class-led school assemblies to promote Global
Citizenship
Re-introduce Pupil council to investigate global charities
Create a display area in order to raise the profile of global
citizenship and ensuring that it recognises and celebrates
diversity in Scotland and worldwide.
Pupil Council, Fairtrade and Eco action plans to reflect Global
citizenship
Timescales
Dec 2014
Ongoing
Ongoing
Dec 2014
Each term
Sept 2014
Jun 2015
Sept 2014
How will you measure success?
Our children will have more understanding of world events and issues of concern/ will take part in relevant, age appropriate, responsible discussions
and actions/ will understand the needs and rights of others/Our classes will engage in fundraising activities with and educational dimension
(assemblies, enterprise etc.)/Our school will have established an international link/Our staff will promote volunteering/ further links made with
Montgomery Centre/ assembly timetable in place/ Teachers’ planning, monitoring, observation and discussion opportunities/ Pupil Council reestablished
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 7 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
6
Active Literacy
Intended Outcomes
Actions

Develop staff knowledge of learning and teaching
methodologies for reading, writing, talking and listening
using Literacy Strategy Group resources, existing school
resources, relevant CfE documentation and NL Active
Literacy.
Match experiences and outcomes to relevant learning
activities and teaching approaches.
Identify opportunities to develop writing skills across the
curriculum – applying knowledge and skills in a range of
contexts
Explore use of ICT and GLOW to develop pupils’ reading
and writing skills
Identify relevant assessment approaches to evaluate
pupil progress using NAR.
Whole-school approach to teaching reading and writing
– progressive programme from P1 to P7
 Staff confident in using effective learning and teaching
approaches for Active Literacy
 Pupils applying skills across learning
 Contexts for learning are relevant and motivating for
pupils
 Pupils show increased skill levels in writing, spelling and
reading.
Raised attainment in reading and writing.
Timescales
Ongoing
throughout
session
Collegiate
sessions in
calendar
How will you measure success?

Scrutiny of pupil work, attainment and achievement– maintain folio or profile of writing showing progression. Feedback from parents.
Cluster moderation Pupil progress in meeting targets/ Classroom observation/Staff self-evaluation and reflection on learning and
teaching/Plans for learning/Discussion with pupils through classroom learning visits
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 8 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
7
Numeracy
Intended Outcome
Actions
To prioritise the teaching of core numeracy skills
Improved practice by focusing on different methodologies
employed in the teaching and learning of numeracy.
The Big Maths resources bought and trialled by teachers
Collegiate sessions to discuss planning format and best
way forward with composite classes
Improved learning experiences for all young people.
Follow CLIC principles in daily practice – professional
dialogue around this
HT and class teacher/pupil learning conversations
Increased motivation and enjoyment in numeracy.
To raise attainment and achievement for all.
Increased links between primary / primary, primary /
secondary to ensure a coherent, consistent approach to
planning, learning and teaching and assessment and
moderation.
Increased continuity and progression across transition
stages, including nursery to P1 and P7 to S1.
Timescales
Ongoing as of
Aug 2014 –
identified
collegiate
sessions
Termly
evaluations and
progress checks
Sharing of good practice across the Cluster through joint
collegiate times.
Audit impact of improvement plan through staff and pupil
questionnaires.
How will you measure success?
Class observations by HT/staff peer monitoring/sampling of work/moderation within cluster/evaluation of InCAs results/ ongoing
professional dialogue – sharing of good practice/ learning conversations with children
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 9 of 10
Improvement Plan
Improvement Priority No.
Intended Outcome
8
Actions
Timescales
How will you measure success?
Progress Check / Comments / Next Steps
Date:
Date
Page 10 of 10