Setting

Kerry Collins East Hanningfield Church of England Primary School The Tye East Hanningfield CM3 8AE

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Church of England Primary School

Following my visit to your school on 4 December 2013, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to report 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.

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Church of England Primary School

The visit was the first monitoring inspection since the school was judged to require improvement following the section 5 inspection in July 2013. It was carried out under section 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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Church of England Primary School

Senior leaders and governors are taking effective action to tackle the areas requiring improvement identified at the recent section 5 inspection. The school should take further action to:

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Church of England Primary School

 match work and tasks more closely to pupils’ different abilities  link with a successful school to share good practice

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Evidence

During the visit, I held meetings with you, four members of the Governing Body and a representative of the local authority to discuss the action taken since the last inspection. I also spoke with two teachers. I evaluated the school action plan and the school’s monitoring and assessment documentation. You accompanied me during visits to all classes in the school, where we observed teaching and looked at pupils’ work. I also spoke with two teachers. Serco Inspections Colmore Plaza 20 Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham B4 6AT T 0300 123 1231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T : 0121 679 9153 Direct email : naik.sandhu@serco.com

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Context

Since the inspection three teachers have left the school and have been replaced. The governing body has very recently elected a new chair-person.

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Main findings

You are making a positive difference to the quality of education at the school. There are new teachers in the school and you have swiftly established your high expectations for teaching. The proportion of good teaching has improved since the inspection but more work needs to be done to sustain this. In particular, the scrutiny of pupils’ books shows that too many pupils are doing the same work, regardless of their ability. This is limiting the progress that pupils of all abilities can make. The quality of education for pupils in the reception and Year 1 class has significantly improved. The outdoor area is well used and pupils are learning important skills in independence. As this is a mixed age class you need to ensure that the curriculum for pupils in Year 1 suitably prepares them for their transition to Year 2.

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Main findings

You are improving the teaching of reading. Training of staff and investment in resources are having an impact. The teaching of phonics is well structured and is much more systematic. You need to review the use of space during this teaching time. The groups are close to one another, and some pupils are becoming distracted when they need to concentrate fully on the sounds and words that they are learning to speak, hear, read or spell.

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Main findings

You have a clear view on what you need to do to improve further. Your post Ofsted action plan is detailed and sets out a coherent pathway to success. Your practice of updating the plan monthly means that it remains current and relevant. The monitoring that you have done of teaching is evaluative and provides teachers with useful guidance for how to improve. You are not making sufficient use of the pupils’ books as a key source of evidence for progress and this is something that you need to incorporate into your monitoring work in the future.

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Main findings

Governors have commissioned an external review which the local authority will undertake before the end of the autumn term. Governors have pre-empted the outcomes of the review and have evaluated their own performance, identifying areas where they can quickly improve. The way that they monitor the work of the school has improved, as has how rigorously they hold the school leaders to account. Governors have arranged training to address the gaps in the knowledge surrounding the interpretation of school data.

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Main findings

Ofsted may carry out further visits and, where necessary, provide further support and challenge to the school until its next section 5 inspection.

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External support

A local authority adviser has visited the school twice since the inspection, providing you with support with classroom observations, and general guidance. In addition, the school is paying for the support of another local authority adviser, who has provided useful help with the post Ofsted action plan. You have not yet partnered with another, successful school. The local authority is preparing an offer of such partnership, and this is something that you should make the most of.

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External support

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

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