Setting

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

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Natalie Showell Headteacher Low Hill Nursery School Jenks Avenue Low Hill Wolverhampton West Midlands WV10 9JN

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Ofsted visit to Low Hill Nursery School

Following my visit with Deb Jenkins, 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 Low Hill 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 Low Hill 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 Low Hill Nursery School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the senior leadership team and the senior leader responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to children 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:

 The school opened on 14 September 2020. You provided small-group induction sessions for children and their families, including those who were new to the school. All children were expected to be at school by the end of September.  You told us that attendance is broadly in line with this time last year.  Children are experiencing the curriculum that they normally would at this time of the year. This means there is a focus on children’s personal, social and emotional development, their physical development, their communication skills and use of language. You told us that you have made children’s emotional well-being a priority.  Staff have carried out baseline assessments of each child. You have identified that some children need extra help with communication and language development. You have organised small-group, and one-to-one, support activities to provide this.  The curriculum includes opportunities for adults and children to share stories,

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

rhymes and information texts. You also provide information for parents about reading with their children, including the recommendation of suitable books. Staff have recorded stories that families can listen to together at home.  Staff have adapted activities so that children can continue to experience creative aspects of the curriculum. For example, children are able to use individual trays with equipment and materials, such as modelling clay and cutting tools.  Leaders are currently working on plans to provide remote education for any children who are required to self-isolate, or in the event of any future local restrictions. No children required remote education at the time of the visit.

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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 Wolverhampton. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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