Colchester schools on the up, say latest Ofsted reports

Here is a round-up of three of the reports, which rated Hazelmere and Monkwick schools as good, and Barnetson Kimberley-Joy childminder as oustanding.

Hazelmere Junior School improves despite sizeable increase on school roll

A GREENSTEAD school has maintained a good standard of education after officials from the education regulator paid the school its first full inspection in a decade.

Hazelmere Junior School, in Hawthron Avenue, Colchester, received a short inspection in 2015, but Ofsted’s latest visit in July, the last time the school had received a full inspection was in November 2011.

The school, which had a total of 154 pupils on the roll 11 years ago, was said by inspectors to provide good teaching and effective care.

Now, however, the school has increased in size significantly, and has 221 pupils – but Ofsted inspectors said Hazelmere School has successfully maintained the good standards it set at the last inspection.

The school has continued to do well despite the increase in numbers of pupils (Image: Unknown)

The report read: “The curriculum is well structured and plans for pupils’ learning build year on year – leaders have thought carefully about which units are taught when, and how they can link into the local context.”

Pupils’ wellbeing was also identified as a priority of the teaching staff.

“Pupils’ physical, emotional, and social development is a high priority for leaders and staff.

“Pupils get lots of opportunities to think and be calm in mindfulness and yoga sessions [and] they appreciate and enjoy these activities.”

Monkwick School bounces back from 2019 inspection

A SCHOOL in Berechurch has managed to improve on its previous rating from the education regulator following a positive report from Ofsted inspectors.

When inspected in 2019, Monkwick Junior school – which has 227 pupils aged seven to 11 on the school roll – was deemed to require improvement by officials, with pupils falling behind national standards in reading, writing, and mathematics.

The expectations set by teachers was deemed too low, though teachers of pupils with special educational needs was singled out for praise.

In the most recent inspection of the school, published online last week by Ofsted, the school bounced back from its 2019 inspection, and was deemed to be good in all departments, which included the quality of education, leadership, and overall behaviour and attitudes.

Monkwick Junior School improved significantly from its 2019 showing (Image: Unknown)

One section of the report read: “Leaders have carefully considered the important skills and knowledge they want pupils to acquire in each year group; teachers make lessons interesting, which inspires pupils to learn.”

Importantly, it added expectations were higher of pupils than in the previous inspection.

“The learning environment is calm and orderly, and this ensures that pupils can focus on their lessons – pupils know that good behaviour is necessary to achieve this, and they rise to this expectation.”

High praise for childminder which has "enormous impact" on children's lives

A CHILDMINDER has been rated as outstanding for the second time in as many inspections after Ofsted officials published their latest report earlier this week.

Barnetson Kimberley-Joy childminding, which runs from King Stephen Road, Colchester, was inspected last month with the findings published on Tuesday.

Run by Kim Barnetson, the childminding service has been registered in Colchester for 20 years and looks after children from the ages of two to four.

There was high praise indeed for the childminder, which is in King Stephen Road (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

In the report, which is publicly available, inspectors praised the childminder for her “affectionate and nurturing care”, where children “consistently try hard to succeed.”

Other aspects of the report abound with praise; one part of the report focuses on the “amazing learning experiences” enjoyed by children who go on trips to the seaside, forests, parks, and also grow fruit and vegetables in local allotments.

Partnerships with parents were also described as “superb.”

“Parents express a tremendous amount of praise for the care and education their children receive.

“They value the childminder's support and state that she has had 'an enormous impact on our children's lives.

“The childminder is constantly developing her outstanding provision – or example, she attends training courses to extend her already excellent knowledge.

“This has had an extremely positive impact on the quality of her provision.”