12 June 2020
Positive and caring relationships between children and staff highlighted in inspection
Inspectors have acknowledged children’s pride of Tarland School and Nursery and its links to the local community.
The Education Scotland inspection also praised the positive and caring relationships between children and staff which support an inclusive learning environment after their visit in January.
The nursery received “good” gradings for quality of care and support, quality of environment, quality of staffing, quality of management and leadership. The nursery also received “good” rankings for learning, teaching and assessment and securing children’s progress.
The primary school was considered “satisfactory” for learning, teaching and assessment and raising attainment and achievement, with inspectors recommending some areas for further development. The school’s Head Teacher and Nursery Manager Julie Rogers and her colleagues have already started to address these areas following the inspection.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee chair, Cllr Gillian Owen, said: “The teachers and staff are committed to improvement. Well done to Ms Rogers and Sarah Crighton, Early Years Lead Practitioner and the nursery team, who are ensuring children learn in an encouraging and supportive environment which brings out their best. The feedback is encouraging in terms of the next steps the school can take to improve further.”
Cllr Rosemary Bruce, committee vice chair, added: “There are a few areas of improvement such as developing greater consistency across the curriculum; giving teachers more autonomy to track and monitor attainment and encouraging appropriate pace of children’s learning listed in the inspection but there are plenty of positives that all connected with the school and nursery should be rightly proud about.”
Education Scotland confirmed it is satisfied with the progress being made and therefore no subsequent visits will be made to the school and nursery in connection with the inspection.