Setting

Christine Eshmade Headteacher Canewdon Endowed Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School High Street Canewdon Rochford SS4 3QA

p.1

Controlled Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 11 December 2012, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report on the findings of my visit. Thank you for the help you gave me and for the time you made available to discuss the actions you are taking to improve the school since the most recent section 5 inspection.

p.1

Controlled Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in 3 October 2012. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

p.1

Evidence

During the visit, meetings were held with the head and deputy headteacher, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Governing Body, and a representative of the local authority. The school improvement and action plans were evaluated.

p.1

Context

Since the inspection, a new Chair and Vice Chair of the Governing Body have been appointed. Staff absence has stabilised and all classes are taught by their permanent teachers.

p.1

Main findings

The school accepts that the outcomes and priorities from the recent inspection are the right ones, and has taken action to resolve them by: Serco Inspections Cedar House 21 William Street Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1LH T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0121 683 3263 Direct email :lewis.mackie1@serco.com  adding challenge for more-able pupils to enable more of them to exceed national expectations in both key stages  addressing concerns about bullying by educating pupils and their parents about it during anti-bullying week and surveying pupils views about behaviour and safety  visiting other local schools to observe good practice.

p.1

Main findings

Governors have moved quickly to support the school’s drive for improvement and develop its role in holding school leaders to account by:  auditing the skills of governors to link them with different subjects  attending training on safeguarding, finance and managing staff performance  inducting new members onto the governing body  forming a new committee to monitor the improvements made by the school.

p.2

Main findings

Senior leaders and governors have begun to take effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. Following the visit to the school, HMI recommend that further action is taken to:  observe how well teachers address the areas for improvement identified during inspection to improve their teaching  include middle leader roles and responsibilities in school improvement plans  provide governor’s with training of how to use raise online data.

p.2

Main findings

Representatives from the school, the Diocese and the local authority are due to meet to discuss the future direction of the school, including a possible move towards federating with other local schools, or converting to an academy. This is at an early stage of development and no decisions have been made. HMI will liaise with the local authority in the Spring term 2013 to monitor developments.

p.2

External support

The local authority has provided a wide range of support to improve teaching and develop provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage. This is valued by the school. The local authority adviser has a detailed understanding of the school and continues to work with governors and the Diocese to determine its long-term future.

p.2

External support

I am copying this letter to the Chair of the Governing Body and the Director of Children’s Services for Essex.

p.2