‘INCIDENTS’ between pupils at Law Primary School in North Berwick remain higher than in other county schools – 10 months after extra help was drafted in to tackle problems.

Complaints and concerns from parents and staff led to East Lothian education chiefs launching an internal review of the school last January, focusing specifically on how well the school was meeting the needs of all children.

The review identified several areas for improvement:

  • Improve leadership of inclusive approaches and support for all children, including those with special needs;
  • Develop staff skills in supporting children with specific needs;
  • Improve the training, support and deployment of support staff;
  • Ensure the school’s approaches to promoting positive behaviour are reviewed to reduce punitive sanctions and to be more focused on children’s needs and their rights; and,
  • Improve parental confidence in the school.

An evaluation of the school’s progress in the 10 months since the review found that, overall, the “school had made strong progress in taking forward the areas for improvement”.

The evaluation stated that staff had “gained confidence in the ways in which they meet the needs of the children” and the children were “very positive about their school”.

But it noted: “Whilst behaviour has improved, the number of pupil-pupil reported incidents remains higher than other schools.

“The senior leadership team should continue to monitor this and continue to develop and embed further the positive relationship strategies in place in order to reduce these instances.”

Parents of pupils at the school were written to following last January’s review to advise them a plan of action was being introduced. It looked at providing greater support to pupils and recruiting new additional support needs staff and another year teacher.

The evaluation added: “Whilst many parents recognise the impact of the positive interventions the school is putting into place, a number still remain concerned about the behaviour of a small number of pupils and the impact this is having on the school.”

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “The council’s education service carried out a focused review of Law Primary School in January 2018 to identify whether improvements were required to better meet pupils’ needs. The school was given support, including additional staffing, training and support from officers from the education service as they introduced new practices and ways of working.

“A follow-through review was held in November 2018 to evaluate progress. It found significant improvements throughout the school which are already having a positive impact for pupils and their families.

“Our team spoke with staff, parents and pupils who were pleased with the changes, especially surrounding support for all pupils and communication. The school is committed to continuing with this work and building on this progress.

“The whole staff team is to be commended for this positive work and the difference this is making for their school community.”

The school, which has not undergone an Education Scotland inspection for 10 years, has about 770 students and a further 121 attend the nursery school. Since the review, a new sports hall and dining room has opened.