Ellington Infant School in Ramsgate has been recognised for its role in a parliamentary review into education and best practice.
Last November the school was invited to submit an article outlining its journey for the review.
The aim was to place policy discussion into the hands of large and small schools across the country, and move away from the “Westminster bubble” to get to the heart of the issues that matter most to educators.
Jointly chaired by Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, the Review’s non-partisan approach is to enable policy development driven by those who are most affected by it.
The co-chairman of The Parliamentary Review, Lord Pickles, has praised the organisations featured in The Review, adding that it is “essential that politicians have a firm understanding of the challenges with which British organisations must contend.”,
Writing in The Review, Lord Blunkett said: “The education service continues to deliver for individuals, communities and of course for our nation, “ despite a deeply uncertain future,
He adds that the system needs “the most enormous injection of cash.”
In the article from Ellington, head teacher Nicky Brown talks about the school’s journey from Ofsted rating good, to requires improvement and back to good thanks to many initiatives put in place.
Ms Brown explains how the school has expanded outdoor learning, using school funds for swimming lessons and how the curriculum has been altered to include more play-based learning.
In the article Ms Brown says: “In an area with high deprivation and a significant number of children entering reception with poor language skills, we believed our children would benefit more from a less-formal, high-quality play-based curriculum. We have a small
forest area with a covered pond and have invested in wet weather gear to allow our students to explore outside at all times. We do not have fancy equipment, but what we have we use well.”
Ms Brown said the school is proud of its inclusion in the review. She said: “ We are so proud to be recognised by the Parliamentary Review for the journey Ellington Infant School has taken and being invited to be Good Practice Representative for education’.
Click here to see the best practice article for Ellington Infant School