Inspection of St Charles’ PS ELCC by His Majesty’s 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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1 PUBLIC ___________________________________________________________________ To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 21 May 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Inspection of St Charles’ Primary School & Early Learning and Childcare Class (ELCC) by His Majesty’s Inspectorate in Scotland ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 St Charles’ Primary School and Early Learning and Childcare Class was inspected by HM Inspectorate of Education in January 2026 as part of a national sample of education. HM Inspectorate of Education uses different models of inspection and at St Charles’ Primary School the long model approach was deployed using 4 quality indicators from How Good is our School (4th Edition). Inspectors assessed the school and Early Learning and Childcare Class with a focus on three quality indicators from the Quality Improvement Framework for the early learning and childcare sectors. 1.2 This was a positive inspection which evaluated quality indicators in the school as: Quality Indicator 1.3 Leadership of Change Good Quality Indicator 2.3 Learning, teaching and assessment Good Quality Indicator 3.1 Ensuring wellbeing,equity and inclusion Very Good Quality Indicator 3.2 Raising attainment and achievement Good 1.3 This was a positive inspection which evaluated quality indicators in the Early Learning and Childcare Class as Quality Indicator Curriculum Satisfactory Quality Indicator Learning, Teaching and assessment Satisfactory Quality Indicator Wellbeing, Inclusion and equality Good 1.3 As part of the inspection model the following areas were also reviewed:
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2 PUBLIC Quality Indicator 2.1 Safeguarding Quality Indicator 2.2 Curriculum: Learning Pathways Quality Indicator 2.7 Partnerships: Impact on Learners – Parental Engagement 1.4 HM Inspectorate of Education do not attach an evaluative grade to this. 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 10 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 five key strengths of the school and ELCC • Across the school and nursery, children are friendly, welcoming and kind to one another, staff and visitors. There are positive and trusting relationships between staff and children. As a result, children take pride in their school and nursery and engage positively in their learning. • In the nursery, staff provide children with motivating learning within the forest kindergarten. Children enjoy their learning outdoors and develop a range of skills while working with each other and exploring the environment. • Teachers and children have meaningful leadership opportunities that enable them to influence change and drive improvement across the school. • In the school, staff work effectively as a team. Their strong knowledge of individual children and collaborative approach to supporting wellbeing ensures that children feel cared for, valued and able to learn within a supportive environment. • In the school, the wide range of opportunities for children to achieve success across a variety of contexts. This is supported by teachers, strong community links and partnerships. Children develop confidence and important skills for learning, life and work. 1.7 The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the head teacher and a representative from Renfrewshire Council. • In the nursery, staff should take steps to ensure children experience a broad range of activities across all areas of learning. Staff should improve their approaches to planning and recording children’s learning and progress through the early level. • In the nursery, staff should improve approaches to developing learning with the youngest children to provide activities that are developmentally appropriate. Staff need to work more closely with the parents of the
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3 PUBLIC youngest children to ensure the nursery meets children’s wellbeing and learning needs more fully. • In the school, senior leaders should review existing systems and processes that support ongoing improvement, ensuring these lead to the greatest positive impact on children’s learning. • Senior leaders and teachers should continue to strengthen learning and teaching approaches to support greater consistency and raise attainment in literacy and numeracy. They should provide learning that is consistently challenging and well matched to the needs of all pupils. 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 key strengths and recognise the areas for further improvement in the inspection report on St Charles’ Primary School and ELCC. ___________________________________________________________________ 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 St Charles’ 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 four 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
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4 PUBLIC 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 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
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5 PUBLIC 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 published on the HM Inspectorate of Education website – https://educationinspectorate.gov.scot/media/wm3bk0o5/st-charles-ps-elcc-ins- 100326.pdf Author: Emma Henry, Head of Education, emma.henry@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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1 | St Charles Primary School and Early Learning Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8625824 © Crown Copyright 10 March 2026 Dear Parent/Carer In January 2026, a team of HM Inspectors of Education visited St Charles’ Primary School and Early Learning Childcare Class. 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’s work. • Across the school and nursery, children are friendly, welcoming and kind to one another, staff and visitors. There are positive and trusting relationships between staff and children. As a result, children take pride in their school and nursery and engage positively in their learning. • In the nursery, staff provide children with motivating learning within the forest kindergarten. Children enjoy their learning outdoors and develop a range of skills while working with each other and exploring the environment. • Teachers and children have meaningful leadership opportunities that enable them to influence change and drive improvement across the school. • In the school, staff work effectively as a team. Their strong knowledge of individual children and collaborative approach to supporting wellbeing ensures that children feel cared for, valued and able to learn within a supportive environment. • In the school, the wide range of opportunities for children to achieve success across a variety of contexts. This is supported by teachers, strong community links and partnerships. Children develop confidence and important skills for learning, life and work. The following areas for improvement were identified and discussed with the headteacher and a representative from Renfrewshire Council. • In the nursery, staff should take steps to ensure children experience a broad range of activities across all areas of learning. Staff should improve their approaches to planning and recording children’s learning and progress through the early level. • In the nursery, staff should improve approaches to developing learning with the youngest children to provide activities that are developmentally appropriate. Staff need to work more closely with the parents of the youngest children to ensure the nursery meets children’s wellbeing and learning needs more fully.
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2 | St Charles Primary School and Early Learning Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8625824 © Crown Copyright • In the school, senior leaders should review existing systems and processes that support ongoing improvement, ensuring these lead to the greatest positive impact on children’s learning. • Senior leaders and teachers should continue to strengthen learning and teaching approaches to support greater consistency and raise attainment in literacy and numeracy. They should provide learning that is consistently challenging and well matched to the needs of all pupils. 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 St Charles’ Primary School and Early Learning Childcare Class Quality indicators Evaluation Leadership of change good Learning, teaching and assessment good Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion very good Raising attainment and achievement 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 satisfactory Learning, teaching and assessment satisfactory Wellbeing, inclusion and equality good
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3 | St Charles Primary School and Early Learning Childcare Class, Renfrewshire Council, 8625824 © Crown Copyright A more detailed document called Summarised Inspection Findings (SIF) will be available on the HMIE website at: Inspection reports | His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland 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. Catriona Smith HM Inspector On behalf of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland