Federation School Improvement Priorities for 2024-2025

As educators inspiring the next generation,  we are continuously reflecting and reviewing our teaching and learning practices to best meet the needs of our children. Understanding the strengths, interests and needs of our children and learning community is what we do well, but we always want to do better.

Last year we prioitised evidence based research which would  improve children's wellbeing and language development, and engage our parents and families. The projects we were involved in LEAP, Elklan Communication Friendly Settings, Creative Hullbaloo, Talk Boost, not only enhanced educators confidence, their knowledge and skills, but also impacted positively on our children, parents and families.

In considering how equalities and inclusion apply to all families we focused upon how we can help all children to feel included and valued in a positive and supportive environment which would advance inclusion and accessibility for all.  We began to look at ways to celebrate a child's unique learning pathway, meeting the child where they are and firmly rooted in the child’s interests, wellbeing and enjoyment. In March 2024 Ofsted visited George Dent Nursery and wrote;

"Children thrive at George Dent Nursery School. Leaders ensure that all children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) benefit from highly effective care, support and guidance. Leaders, staff and governors share the same high ambition for all the children who attend. Children rise to these high expectations and achieve well".

As educators it is important, we have strong emotional resilience and good mental health to help us cope with the daily challenges life brings.  Last year we prioritised strengthening emotional resilience across the Federation Community. We considered how we can individually and collectively find ways to develop a positive mindset so that we were better able to manage stress, challenges, trauma or adversity that life brings and bounce back from it. 

Finally we endeavoured to develop leadership further at all levels, ensuring all leaders have effective support in place to ensure that the nursery can be sustainably managed and future proof. 

We believe that our curriculum ‘Responding to Process’ enables our pupils to become competent, confident learners and communicators and that our approach to teaching and learning will provide children with the essential knowledge and skills that will help them to cope with uncertainty and make the most of opportunities as and when they are presented.  

Our motto ‘Precious Moments Today, Creative Children Tomorrow’ fundamentally embodies our pedagogy, our beliefs and practice and our values are at the core of everything we do.  They underpin our teaching and learning, and provide an environment, which prepares our pupils as creative, confident, capable and, above all else, happy citizens.

As part of our ongoing school development we have identified the following key priorities for 2024-2025.

School Improvement Priorities 2024 -2025

Area of focus – Quality of education - Federation

1. To deepen educators understanding of ‘Responding to Process’ so that ‘curriculum’ planning and assessment processes meet the child where they are developmentally, and are firmly rooted in the child’s interests, wellbeing and enjoyment.
2. To further develop educators understanding of how children learn and acquire mathematical understanding so that children have a range of transferrable skills they can use in everyday life; including problem solving; reasoning; explaining and justifying.

Area of focus – Leadership and Management - Federation

3. Leaders will ensure that all educators will continue to engage in relevant and challenging research and creative collaborations that will improve the overall quality of communicative experiences for our children and families.

Area of Focus – Personal Development – Borough Road Priority

4. To increase the positive impacts on educators wellbeing, and that of the children, through working in, and with nature, supporting children to develop authentic relationships with the natural environment throughout the school year.

Area of focus – Personal Development – George Dent Priority

4. We know that relationships are at the base of sustainability so this year we will think about how we work together to promote deeper thinking around ecological relationships.

Area of focus – Behaviours and Attitudes - Federation

5. To further explore attachment informed practice so that educators have increased understanding and confidence when acknowledging and supporting children’s emotional regulation.