Wirral Life January 2018 | Page 20

W L ‘OUTSTANDING’ RATING FOR EARLY YEARS PROVISION AT BIRKENHEAD SCHOOL The whole School community at Birkenhead School is celebrating after once again after receiving the very best outcome possible for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in a recent inspection. Birkenhead School’s Early Years offering was rated as outstanding in all areas and some highlights of the EYFS Inspection included: • The overall effectiveness of the Early Years provision is outstanding. • The quality of teaching, learning and assessment 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. • 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. Headmaster, Mr Paul 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 20 wirrallife.com 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.” 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 Jan 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 full report can be found on the School website and 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. For families wishing to find out more about the School, personalised visits and taster days are available throughout the year for all year groups from Nursery to Sixth Form. For further information, visit www.birkenheadschool.co.uk