Setting

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

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Victoria Walker Headteacher Ludworth Primary School Lower Fold Marple Bridge Stockport Cheshire SK6 5DU

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Ofsted visit to Ludworth Primary School

Following my visit with Julie Barlow, 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.

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Ofsted visit to Ludworth 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 Ludworth 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 Ludworth 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.

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Context

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 on 3 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance from the start of this term is broadly in line with what you would expect at this time of year. On the day of the visit, the children in your Reception Year ‘bubble’ were isolating.  All pupils, including those not attending school, are studying their usual curriculum.  Teachers have completed assessments to find out where pupils are up to in learning to read. Most pupils are where you would expect them to be. Extra support is in place for those pupils who need help to get back on track.  You have prioritised the teaching of reading across all subjects with an emphasis on addressing gaps in pupils’ comprehension skills. Teachers in the early years have identified a need to support the children with their communication and language development.  Teachers have also carried out checks in mathematics to find out what pupils

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

already know. This information is being used to adapt the curriculum to enable pupils to catch up on missed learning.  Your emphasis at the beginning of term was to settle pupils back into school and support their social and emotional well-being. You have plans to assess pupils’ knowledge in the wider curriculum as the autumn term progresses.  Staff have improved their expertise and confidence in delivering learning remotely. In the event of future local restrictions, you believe the school is well placed to ensure the remote learning offer continues to match the school’s curriculum. 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 Stockport. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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