Lauder Primary School and Nursery class receives positive report from HMIE and the Care Inspectorate

During their visit in December last year, inspectors talked to parents, carers and children and worked closely with the head teacher and staff.

Strengths

HMIE Inspectors found the following strengths in the primary school:

• Positive, nurturing, and respectful relationships between children and staff. Children feel valued and well-supported at school. They are confident, well-mannered, and enthusiastic about their learning.
• A strong focus on learning and teaching. Modelled well by the headteacher, senior leaders and all staff are reflective about their work. They make thoughtful use of professional learning to develop further children’s learning experiences.
• Highly effective use of digital technologies. Children and teachers are skilled and confident in using digital tools to support and enhance learning and teaching.
• Well-established community partnerships and achievement opportunities. All children engage in exciting, creative and collaborative experiences. These extend their learning and help them to practise and demonstrate their skills. This approach supports children well to achieve and experience success.

The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from Scottish Borders Council:

• Refine and streamline systems and processes that support the work of the school in improving outcomes for children. 
• Continue to develop ways for children to take the lead in their learning.
• Continue to strengthen further staff’s shared understanding of children’s progress and achievement against national standards. 
• Continue to develop universal and targeted approaches to accelerate children’s progress and raise attainment further.

In the nursery class, HMIE inspectors and the Care Inspectorate found:  

• Established relationships between families and staff were promoting positive outcomes for children. 
• There is a highly effective approach in place to plan for children’s learning both indoors and outdoors. It involves children very well and takes account of their interests and needs. 
• Staff interact skilfully with children to deepen and extend learning. They ask thoughtful questions and comment effectively on the learning they observe. This is contributing to children making very good progress in their learning. 
• Detailed personal planning for children was leading to improved outcomes. Interventions were developmentally appropriate and supported children to engage.
• Senior leaders were encouraged to ensure actions identified during audits of policies and procedures are promptly addressed in line with best practice guidance.

Headteacher, Robbie Oliver-Devlin

“We are absolutely delighted with the positive feedback from both His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education and the Care Inspectorate following our recent inspection at Lauder Primary School and Nursery Class. The reports recognise the strong, nurturing relationships at the heart of our school, the good progress children are making in their learning, and the highly effective approaches our staff use to plan engaging experiences both indoors and outdoors.

“I am particularly proud of the way our team works together to ensure every child feels valued, supported, and challenged. The inspectors also highlighted our effective use of digital technology, our ambitious staff team, and the strong partnerships we have with families and the wider community.

“While we will continue to refine our systems and build on areas for development identified, we are confident in our capacity to keep improving. These findings reflect the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our children and the ongoing support of our parents and carers across the Lauder community.”

Lauder Primary Parent Council Chair, Jenny Smith

"We would like to thank everyone in the school community who shared their views and provided honest, constructive feedback during the inspection process. We are especially proud that our pupils were recognised as confident, well mannered, and enthusiastic learners, and that the strong, supportive relationships between pupils, staff and parents/carers were highlighted from nursery onwards.

“As a Parent Council, we welcome the school’s commitment to continuous improvement and look forward to strengthening our partnership to improve learning outcomes and ensure an inclusive environment for all at Lauder Primary School.”

Inspectors are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.