The whole School community at Birkenhead School is celebrating, after once again receiving the very best outcome possible for our Early Years Foundation Stage provision, alongside a clean bill of health from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), in the recent Regulatory Compliance Inspection.
Birkenhead School’s Early Years offering was rated as outstanding in all areas and the School overall, is fully compliant with all eight Independent School Standards and the requirements of the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
This superb news is the result of three inspectors spending two days in late November at School, absorbing all aspects of School life, including observing the various co-curricular opportunities we have on offer, speaking with many members of staff, governors and pupils, and reviewing questionnaire responses from parents and pupils.
Headmaster, Mr Vicars, spoke of the report’s findings, “I am delighted that the Inspection has confirmed the quality of the education provided by both our teaching and support staff. It is simply not possible to achieve a better result. In particular, the glowing EYFS report is due recognition of the professionalism, leadership and care for the children provided by Mrs Dorney, Head of Early Years, and her team. This is now the third Inspection in a row where all areas of our EYFS provision have been rated as 'outstanding', which does not happen by chance and it couldn’t be more deserved by the staff involved.”
Some highlights of the EYFS Inspection, from the full report, which can be found in full on the School's website include:
- The overall effectiveness of the Early Years provision is outstanding.
- Exciting learning opportunities and dedicated and nurturing staff ensure that children make good, and at times rapid, progress relative to their starting points and are carefully prepared for transition into the next stage of learning.
- Children are exceptionally happy and secure in the setting benefitting from the strong bonds they form with their key workers and other staff in the room.
- The quality of teaching, learning and assessment is outstanding.
- Staff provide high quality learning experiences for the children to meet their next steps.
- Where children are identified as exceeding expectations, staff utilise other resources in the setting to provide challenge and promote further learning. Skilled staff seize opportunities to extend children’s thinking through child initiated and focussed group activities.
- Children’s well-being is a strength of the setting. Staff form warm, secure relationships with the children in their care and as a result, young children are happy and show high levels of confidence and enjoyment.
The inspectors fed back on how parents commented in the questionnaires on how well staff knew their children, the excellent progress their children make and the homely, safe and secure environment that staff create for the children.
Head of Early Years, Mrs Dorney, spoke of the inspection’s findings, saying, “I am delighted that the Early Years provision at Birkenhead School has once again been acknowledged by ISI as outstanding in all areas. Having received this accolade three consecutive times, it confirms the recognition of nurturing, high-quality staff who help develop confidence and self-assurance in our young children, so that they have the opportunity to exceed expectations, whilst having fun in a safe and secure environment.”
The report highlights just how fundamental the principals of learning, development and well-being are throughout Birkenhead School, with the messages starting right from the first stage of a child’s education at School with us.
Thank you to all staff, governors, pupils and parents who made this outcome possible and who help make Birkenhead School the successful learning and School community it is.