Setting

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

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Tom Hutchings Headteacher Cherry Garden Primary School Cherry Garden Lane Bitton Bristol BS30 6JH

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Ofsted visit to Cherry Garden Primary School

Following my visit with Julie Carrington, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 29 September 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.

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Ofsted visit to Cherry Garden 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.

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Ofsted visit to Cherry Garden 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.

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Ofsted visit to Cherry Garden 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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 You opened the school to all pupils full time from 7 September 2020. Pupils in Years 1 to 6 attended part time for three days prior to this. Children joining the Reception year increased their attendance gradually over the first three weeks. They are all now attending full time.  Pupils’ attendance is broadly in line with the school’s normal attendance for this time of year.  All pupils study the national curriculum. You have changed plans for the teaching of some subjects, such as computing and cooking in design technology, because of COVID-19.  Leaders have prioritised reading across the school. Teachers have carried out checks in reading to identify pupils’ new starting points. Pupils in Years 1 and 2 have an extra phonics lesson each day to build their confidence and fluency in reading. In the older classes, pupils who have fallen behind get additional reading sessions to help them catch up.  In mathematics, teachers are focusing on pupils’ recall of number facts. Pupils have

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

daily opportunities to practise their number bonds and times tables. In addition, teachers are developing pupils’ use of mathematical language.  Teachers have adjusted plans for personal, social, health and economic (PHSE) education. This is to support pupils’ emotional well-being, such as helping them to reconnect with friends and understand the change in routines.  You have reflected on the remote learning you provide in light of feedback from parents, pupils and staff. Leaders are now planning to provide work linked to the school’s curriculum so that pupils who are isolating access the same content as their classmates. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

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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 South Gloucestershire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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