PROGRESS at a county primary school has been hailed by education inspectors.

Education Scotland representatives visited Macmerry Primary School and nursery in September 2019 and set out “a number of areas” for improvement.

Inspectors returned just before Christmas this year and were pleased to highlight that steps were being taken to improve the school.

Councillor Fiona Dugdale, cabinet member for education and children’s and family services, was pleased with the findings.

She said: “Inspectors recognise the challenges that Covid brought but highlighted the school’s work to identify gaps in children’s learning and address them.

“I’m also pleased to see the positive comments around the nursery team and the support they offer to our youngest learners.

“The whole team at Macmerry Primary School are dedicated to creating a positive and nurturing environment where all children are valued and included, and it’s great to see this reflected in the report.”

Inspectors highlighted the teamwork between members of staff throughout the school.

In her report, Sally Stewart, managing inspector, confirmed that they were “confident” the school had the capacity to continue to improve and no further visits were planned in connection with the inspection.

She said: “Teachers continue to review their practice through self-evaluation and undertake professional learning and development, for example, in approaches to pedagogy and aspects of literacy.

“As a result of this, there are now improved and consistent approaches to learning and teaching across school.

“Positively, teamwork is now evident from nursery to P7, with the nursery included much more in whole school life than previously.

“Significant improvements are evident in all aspects of the nursery, which have been led by the highly effective senior early years practitioner (SEYP).

“The SEYP knows the strengths and areas for improvement within the nursery very well.

“She is very supportive and has a clear vision of how to achieve agreed priorities.

“As a result, the nursery team work very well together and everyone’s contributions are valued.

“All practitioners are focused on improving outcomes for children and families.”

Inspectors also noted “good” progress in targets being set for children and discussions regarding their wellbeing so they felt respected and included.

Senior leaders and staff were said to have “a strong focus” on inclusion and wellbeing of the children.

The managing inspector added: “There are much more positive relationships and a calm ethos is evident across the whole school.

“As a result, almost all children show readiness to learn and demonstrate the school values of ‘being ready, respectful, be safe’.

“Most children report that the school helps them to understand and respect other people.

“There is a very inclusive ethos in the nursery and practitioners work well together to support the individual needs of all children.

“Nurturing approaches are embedded in daily interactions. Practitioners’ approach to inclusion is now a strength in the setting.

“Almost all children are developing an understanding of the wellbeing indicators. They know what they need to do to keep themselves safe and healthy.

“They relate well to the ‘colour monster’ used in the nursery to help them talk about emotions.”

However, the inspection did note challenges that the school community had faced.

Significant periods of absence for both children and staff due to the Covid-19 pandemic had “impacted on the pace” of raising attainment across literacy and numeracy.

The four-page report highlighted this was also being addressed and children’s attainment in writing was described as “a school-wide priority”.

It reads: “They made changes to teaching approaches across the school to address this and provide tailored support for targeted groups. Across the school, most children’s writing shows evidence of positive progress.”