Setting

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.1

Mark Krisson Headteacher Woodbridge Primary School Wilkinson Way Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1SS

p.1

Ofsted visit to Woodbridge Primary School

Following my visit with Fyfe Johnston, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 1 October 2020, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the visit’s findings. Thank you for the time you made available to discuss your actions since September 2020, when the government expected all schools to open fully to all pupils.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Woodbridge Primary School

This visit was conducted under section 8 of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections are temporarily suspended.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Woodbridge Primary School

Ofsted’s visits to schools during the autumn term are not inspections. We are not giving graded judgements. We did not undertake the usual range of inspection activities and were unable to check other sources of evidence, such as visits to lessons or looking at pupils’ work. The content of this letter gives an overview of our discussions about what has happened in your school this term.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Woodbridge Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the deputy headteacher. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

p.1

Context

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s education system is managing the return to full education for pupils, following an extended break in formal schooling due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

p.1

Context

 approximately 1,200 schools across all Ofsted grades (outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate)  maintained schools, academies and free schools, special schools and centres of alternative provision, including those in cities, and coastal, town or rural communities.

p.2

Context

The information from this visit will feed into Ofsted’s national reporting so that the insights can be shared with the government and the education sector. We did not find any significant concerns during the visit. In such a case, an inspection report would be published on our website and available to parents and carers.

p.2

Context

We did not consider your response to COVID-19 during the spring and summer terms 2020, when the school was not open to all pupils.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 The school fully reopened to all pupils on 7 September 2020, following a staggered start the previous week.  Attendance is in line with what is usual for this time of the year.  The school normally emphasises ‘7 Cs’ throughout their curriculum, which refer to a range of behaviours for learning. To support pupils’ return to school, leaders have reorganised the cycle on which these behaviours are prioritised, focusing on ‘confidence’ and ‘communication’ this term.  Staff are assessing where pupils are in their learning through their daily teaching. Leaders intend to plan for any additional catch-up teaching once teachers fully understand what extra learning is needed by pupils.  For reading, teachers are revisiting key phonics teaching where needed. In English, leaders’ priority is building up pupils’ stamina for writing.  In mathematics, teachers are using their regular system of quizzes to check

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

on potential gaps in learning and then are planning to teach these areas again, if necessary.  The wider curriculum is in place, with some content moved around in the year to fit new arrangements due to COVID-19. Where topics in subjects, such as science, have been moved, teachers are checking that the sequence of teaching still enables pupils to learn effectively. Leaders are encouraging teachers to plan for as much outside learning as possible.  In the event of a further need for remote learning, teachers plan to continue to teach the current curriculum, with some use of recorded teaching videos. Leaders have additional resources ready to support those who do not have access to appropriate technology.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

p.3

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Suffolk. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3