Inspection of Bushes PS ELCC by His Majestys Inspectorate in Scotland ECSPB
Renfrewshire Council · 21 May 2026
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 May 2026 and its agenda
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PUBLIC 1 ___________________________________________________________________ To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 21 May 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Inspection of Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class (ELCC) by His Majesty’s Inspectorate in Scotland ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class was inspected by HM Inspectorate of Education in February 2026 as part of a national sample of education. HM Inspectorate of Education use different models of inspection and at Bushes Primary School the long model approach was deployed. Inspectors assessed the school and Early Learning and Childcare Class with a focus on four quality indicators which are referenced in How Good is our School? 4 Quality Indicator 1.3 Leadership of Change Quality Indicator 2.3 Learning, teaching and assessment Quality Indicator 3.1 Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion Quality Indicator 3.2 Raising Attainment and Achievement 1.2 This was a very positive inspection which evaluated quality indicators in the school as Quality Indicator 1.3 Very Good Quality Indicator 2.3 Good Quality Indicator 3.1 Very Good Quality Indicator 3.2 Very Good 1.3 This was a very positive inspection which evaluated quality indicators in the Early Learning and Childcare Class as Quality Indicator 2.2 Curriculum Very Good Quality Indicator 2.3 Learning, teaching and assessment Very Good
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PUBLIC 2 Quality Indicator 3.1 Wellbeing, inclusion and equity Very Good 1.3 As part of the inspection model the following areas were also reviewed: Quality Indicator 2.1 Safeguarding Quality Indicator 2.2 Curriculum and learning pathways 1.4 HM Inspectorate of Education do not attach an evaluative grade to these. Instead in the Summary of Inspection Findings there are evaluative statements provided which are positive and contribute to the overall school ratings. 1.5 The inspection report in the form of a letter to parents, published by HM Inspectorate of Education on 17 March 2026, is attached as an appendix to this report and is also available from the Director of Children’s Services or from the HM Inspectorate of Education website. 1.6 The letter to parents identified four key strengths of the school • The head teacher, ably supported by senior leaders, provides strong, strategic leadership across the school and ELCC. Together, they have an ambitious vision, which is shared by all staff. All staff have a clear understanding of the school and ELCC’s strengths and areas for improvement. They strive to achieve the very best outcomes for all children. • Children in the school and ELCC are kind, caring and look out for each other. They demonstrate clearly the school’s and ELCC’s values. They are very proud of their school and ELCC and are keen to learn. • Staff in the school and ELCC know children and their families very well and build nurturing relationships based on mutual respect, understanding and kindness. This creates a positive and warm learning environment where children feel safe and happy. • Staff in the school and ELCC make effective use of a range of data to identify any gaps in children’s learning. They work in close partnership with parents and partners to provide support to help children to make progress in their learning. This ensures consistently high levels of attainment and achievement at all levels. 1.7 The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from Renfrewshire Council. • Senior leaders should continue with their plans for children to contribute more effectively to school improvement in the school. • Senior leaders need to continue working with teachers to make sure learning and teaching are consistently high-quality across the school. Children should have more chances to take the lead in their learning and to be challenged in ways that help them make even better progress. • Staff in the school and ELCC should continue to develop children’s digital skills.
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PUBLIC 3 1.8 There is an agreed set of procedures for responding to inspection reports which will support the school and Children’s Services to plan how the area for further improvement will be addressed. Actions are detailed within the school improvement plan which is shared with parents. In addition, the school will be supported in its improvement journey by Children’s Services. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board are asked to note and celebrate the very positive evaluation of Bushes PS and ELCC, note the key strengths and acknowledge the areas for further improvement in the inspection report. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Children’s Services welcomes the process of audit undertaken by HM Inspectorate of Education as supportive to continuous improvement in Renfrewshire’s education establishments. The school team at Bushes Primary School and ELCC approached the inspection in a positive manner and embraced it as a professional learning opportunity in partnership with colleagues at HM Inspectorate of Education. 3.2 The report includes three areas for further improvement, and progress in addressing this will be monitored by Children’s Services staff through the Quality Improvement Framework. 3.3 The inspection report will inform planned improvement activity and will enable the school to build on the recognised strengths and focus further development on areas for improvement to enable the school to continue to deliver a quality educational provision. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No financial implications 2. HR & Organisational Development – No HR implications 3. Community/Council Planning – engaging with, and learning from external inspection, ensures that our Renfrewshire is thriving. High standards of education provision ensure that children and young people are given the best start in life so that they promote and contribute to a more prosperous, fairer society. It also ensures our Renfrewshire is well – by providing an environment which encourages care, welfare and development, establishments play a crucial role in developing children and young people so that they become responsible citizens. The inspection process also supports delivery of the Council Plan crosscutting theme of improving outcomes for children and families as well as other Council Plan key strategic outcomes. Economy
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PUBLIC 4 Equipping all children and young people to achieve success in life Fair Creating inclusive and supportive learning environments for children and young people. Embedding children’s rights in our decision-making processes 4. Legal - The full model inspection includes a focus on QI 3.1 Ensuring wellbeing, equity and inclusion. In evaluating this QI, one of the themes that HM Inspectors evaluate is the school’s Fulfilment of Statutory Duties related to attendance, exclusions, ASL Act and Associated Code of Practice, Bullying, Equality Act, Health and Nutrition, and Gaelic education. 5. Property/Assets – No risks to property/assets. 6. Information Technology – No information and technology risks. 7. Equality & Human Rights – The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – No negative impacts on health and safety. 9. Procurement – No procurement risks 10. Risk – No risks identified. 11. Privacy Impact – No impact on privacy. 12. Cosla Policy Position – N/A 13. Climate Risk – None. 14. Children’s Rights – This links to, Article 12 (respect for the views of the child) Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life. Article 28 (right to education) Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this. Article 29 (goals of education) Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment. List of Background Papers - The inspection report and additional evidence is
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PUBLIC 5 published on the HM Inspectorate of Education website. https://educationinspectorate.gov.scot/media/jvzifl3i/bushes-ps-ins-170326.pdf __________________________________________________________ Author: Emma Henry, Head of Education, emma.henry@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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1 | Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8624623 © Crown Copyright 17 March 2026 Dear Parent/Carer In February 2026, a team of HM Inspectors of Education visited Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class (ELCC). During our visit, we talked to parents/carers and children and worked closely with the headteacher and staff. The inspection team found the following strengths in the school and ELCC’s work. • The headteacher, ably supported by senior leaders, provides strong, strategic leadership across the school and ELCC. Together, they have an ambitious vision, which is shared by all staff. All staff have a clear understanding of the school and ELCC’s strengths and areas for improvement. They strive to achieve the very best outcomes for all children. • Children in the school and ELCC are kind, caring and look out for each other. They demonstrate clearly the school’s and ELCC’s values. They are very proud of their school and ELCC and are keen to learn. • Staff in the school and ELCC know children and their families very well and build nurturing relationships based on mutual respect, understanding and kindness. This creates a positive and warm learning environment where children feel safe and happy. • Staff in the school and ELCC make effective use of a range of data to identify any gaps in children’s learning. They work in close partnership with parents and partners to provide support to help children to make progress in their learning. This ensures consistently high levels of attainment and achievement at all levels. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Renfrewshire Council. • Senior leaders should continue with their plans for children to contribute more effectively to school improvement in the school. • Senior leaders should continue working with teachers to make sure learning and teaching are consistently high-quality across the school. Children should have more chances to take the lead in their learning and to be challenged in ways that help them make even better progress. • Staff in the school and ELCC should continue to develop children’s digital skills.
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2 | Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8624623 © Crown Copyright We gathered evidence to enable us to evaluate the school’s work using four quality indicators from How good is our school (4th edition). Quality indicators help schools, local authorities and inspectors to judge what is working well and what needs to be improved. Following the inspection of each school, the Scottish Government gathers details of our evaluations to keep track of how well Scottish schools are doing. Here are HMIE’s evaluations for Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class Quality indicators Evaluation Leadership of change very good Learning, teaching and assessment good Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion very good Raising attainment and achievement very good Descriptions of the evaluations are available from: How good is our school (4th edition) Appendix 3: The six-point scale We gathered evidence to enable us to evaluate the ELC’s work using three quality indicators from the Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors. Quality indicators for the nursery class Evaluation Curriculum very good Learning, teaching and assessment very good Wellbeing, inclusion and equality very good A more detailed document called Summarised Inspection Findings (SIF) will be available on the HMIE website at: Bushes Primary School | Inspection Report | His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland
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3 | Bushes Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8624623 © Crown Copyright What happens next? We are confident that the school has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection. Renfrewshire Council will inform parents/carers about the school’s progress as part of its arrangements for reporting on the quality of its schools. Jennifer Wadley HM Inspector On behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland