Learning Walk around school - Staff and Governors Wed 25th/Thu 26th February 2010 Having walked around the school and the playground, staff gave their comments and feedback in a general discussion about the school environment. It was agreed that a school should be interesting, stimulating, organised and able to produce a good and supportive back up to the learning both in and outside the classroom. It was agreed that there should be displays which provide an opportunity for children to see their own work, not necessarily the most able children each time but a reflection of potential; work or displays which encourage and back up learning; some interactive boards to enable the children to be engaged in their learning and perhaps a working wall which can reflect good practice and enable children to see success criteria concerning the current unit or topic being studied. The general consensus of opinion was that the classrooms were interesting and had a variety of displays of differing types; some interactive, some extra-curricular, some to back up teaching and some to inspire and stimulate. The walls were a real enhancement to the classrooms. The outdoor areas both highlighted areas of concern - they need a considerable amount of money, work and effort spent on them. The playground was regarded as 'tired' and not conducive to play whereas the KS1 area needs to be more imaginative and themed. It was clearly understood that there are plans in progress for the KS1 area including new storage space, a covered area and exciting new art work. In general the learning walk enabled us all to look objectively at all areas of the school, to listen to colleagues' opinions about our own rooms and to see and reflect on good practice in the school. It was
also an opportunity to think about those areas which need a necessary and rather immediate renovation or re-think about use and purpose. I believe all staff and the governor present were able to reflect deeply upon the school environment as a whole and some good ideas were put forward, together with the need to think about other areas which need work to make them inspirational for our learners. Elaine Miller