We aim to give children opportunities, skills and knowledge to make progress through good teaching and experiences. We want children to understand how to protect their local environment, their community and the wider world, to show respect and have compassion and curiosity for important issues. We aim for our children to have high aspirations for what they can achieve, have a positive attitude to challenges and know how to live a happy and healthy life.

School Improvement Priorities 2023-24

Quality of Education

1. To improve writing outcomes across school, especially in Key Stage 2, so that writing attainment is consistently above National and progress scores are 0 or above.
2. To further develop the curriculum, in line with the Trust shared approach, and based around John Clare’s key concepts by ensuring that progression is clear and that learning pathways show how key concepts are developed through the primary journey.
3. To embed mastery in number and reasoning so that children deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts rather than memorising key facts.
4. To further develop the role of subject leaders throughout school to ensure that monitoring and evaluation is robust and effectively informs the school improvement cycle.

Leadership and Management

1. To promote high levels of staff wellbeing  so that staff are happy and effective in their roles, feel value and supported and therefore staff turnover is low.
2. To develop teachers’ subject and pedagogical knowledge to enhance teaching of the curriculum further  through access to targeted CPD (Continuing Professional Development) and evidence-based research.
3. To ensure systems for monitoring and evaluation across school are effective in informing the ongoing school improvement cycle and develop staff as leaders.

Personal Development

1. To develop children’s understanding of life beyond ‘Helpston’ so that they deepen their understanding of diversity and of local, national and global issues.
2. To further enhance the curriculum beyond the academic and provide for pupils’ broader development through a review of trips, events and experiences offered, linking career-related learning through the curriculum and raising the profile of music further within school.

Behaviour and Attitudes

1. To ensure that the STEPs therapeutic approach to behaviour is embedded to promote continued high levels of pro-social behavior and that staff are consistent in their approach and management of behaviour.
2. To develop pupils’ resilience and commitment to their own learning so that they are highly immersed in learning, have high aspirations and a strong desire to achieve their personal best.

Early Years

1. To develop children’s spoken language to ensure that they are confident speakers, use ambitious vocabulary, can explain their emotions and speak in whole sentences effectively.
2. To develop early writing and promote of love of writing within the early years so that there is a positive attitude to writing in our youngest children and that this translates into improved outcomes for writing at the end of the reception year.

Organisation and Finance

1. To improve the condition of school premises to ensure that that these are maintained to a high standard to support safe and effective teaching and learning.
2. To continue to increase pupil numbers to ensure greater financial viability of the school to minimise budget fluctuations.