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

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Rachel Crowther Headteacher Dallimore Primary & Nursery School Dallimore Road Kirk Hallam Ilkeston Derbyshire DE7 4GZ

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Ofsted visit to Dallimore Primary & Nursery School

Following my visit with Vic Wilkinson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 6 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 Dallimore Primary & Nursery 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 Dallimore Primary & Nursery 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 Dallimore Primary & Nursery School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher and the assistant 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:

 The school opened to pupils on 3 September 2020. Pupils in Years 1 to 6 attended part time for the first two days. All pupils are expected to attend full time. You gave thought to the admission of children into the Nursery and Reception classes so that they were supported when starting school.  Attendance is above that usually seen at this point in the school year. You have communicated the importance of regular attendance to all parents and carers.  All pupils are studying the full range of subjects. You have not yet recommenced some parts of the physical education (PE) curriculum, such as swimming. You hope to return to the full PE curriculum by January 2021.  Teachers have checked all pupils’ reading knowledge since their return to school. You know that some younger pupils have gaps in their understanding of phonics. You have increased the amount of time dedicated to the teaching of reading and phonics.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 In mathematics, teachers have assessed all pupils’ knowledge and identified their new starting points. Teachers are using this information to revisit some parts of the curriculum so that pupils catch up quickly.  You have prioritised the teaching of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, with a particular focus on online safety. Teachers have not yet checked pupils’ knowledge and understanding across the wider curriculum. Plans are in place to do this in some subjects as the term progresses.  You have plans in place to deliver remote education to pupils when needed. You are in the process of making sure that this learning matches what pupils would learn if they were in school. You have checked which families need support or equipment to access online learning.

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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.

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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 Derbyshire County Council. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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