Layston C of E First School Annual Governing Body Report 2015/16 Loving To Learn, Learning To Love For Every Child A Chance To Shine During the 2015/16 Academic Year, Layston C of E First School has continued to go from strength to strength. We were delighted that the school received nurture group accreditation in the Spring Term, only the second school in Hertfordshire to do so. The Governing Body recognises that our nurture ethos is now embedded in our approach together with our Forest School and Church School ethos. The successes celebrated in our Annual Governing Body Report stem from our strategy and development plan being supported by these ‘three pillars’. Attainment, Standards and Development of Learners Attainment of our children is consistently above national average (measured on average points score), we are in the top 20% of all schools nationally for reading, writing and maths. In 2015 our performance data demonstrated that the proportion of Year 1 pupils that meet the expected standard in Phonics was above the national average. For the Layston C of E First School Ofsted Data Dashboard visit http://dashboard.ofsted.gov.uk/dash.php?urn=117390 . 2013 2014 2015 Subject Reading Writing Maths Layston APS 18.4 17.2 17.7 18.7 17.8 National APS 16.3 14.9 16.1 16 15 16.5 15.1 16.2 Difference +2.1 +2.3 +1.6 +2.4 +2.2 +1.7 +2.7 +1.8

Pupil Premium Pupil Premium is the grant received by Government to support specific groups of children, including those eligible for Free School Meals. In 2015-16 our pupil premium allocation was £24,900. We used this allocation to support pupils in the following ways: Maths booster sessions Our ‘Little Acorns’ Nuture Group Additional Teaching Assistant Support delivering specialised interventions Remission of Music Fees There is evidence of impact of the pupil premium with our disadvantaged children narrowing the gap with their peers and attainment equalling or exceeding the national average. Attendance The Governing Body and Senior Leadership Team has to account for the progress and attainment of every single pupil in the school. When children are absent from school, teachers are required to spend time ensuring that children who have been absent from school catch-up on lost learning. Inevitably, having to back-track with some pupils disrupts and compromises the progress of the whole class. We of course understand that young children are ill from time to time and absence cannot be avoided. However, holidays in term time can be avoided given the direct impact that they have on the whole school. For example, children were recorded as failing national statutory tests last year because they were on unauthorised holiday during testing periods. Given it is evident that Layston’s status as an outstanding school is being compromised by unauthorised absences, the Governing Body revised the school attendance policy in 2015/16. We are pleased with the positive feedback received on the revised policy from many parents and an improvement in attendance. However, we still need to reduce unauthorised absences and lateness. Some key points from the policy: You can only allow your child to miss school if either: they’re too ill to attend, or you have advance permission from the Headteacher Following an absence including sickness, a written explanation should be provided to school to be kept on file It is particularly important that your child is in school in April, May and June when preparation for and statutory testing takes place. Children arriving after 9am but before 9.10 will be marked as 'Late'. Children arriving after 9.10am will be marked as absent. Unless for a valid reason, late arrival after registers have closed will count as an unauthorised absence. The Headteacher will follow-up regular instances of lateness with parents. The attendance policy can be downloaded from http://www.layston.herts.sch.uk/statutory-information/school-policies/. School Budget As is increasingly evident through the media, nationally school budgets are under enormous pressure and are falling in real terms. The Governing Body is accountable for the Financial Performance of the School. Whilst the pressure is being felt, prudent steps have been taken to ensure the financial sustainability of the school. However, key to this sustainability is parents making voluntary contributions for trips and visits including school swimming. As with all schools, the budget position is now such that unless parents make voluntary contributions trips will have to be cancelled. Please also make every effort to support the excellent work of FOLS. Their tireless fund raising efforts this year enabled the climbing frame to be replaced which simply wouldn’t have been possible without them.