Setting

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

p.1

Owen Wilder Headteacher Trinity Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary and Nursery School Vernon Crescent Exeter Devon EX2 7GB

p.1

Nursery School

Following my visit with Lydia Pride, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 15 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

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.

p.1

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.

p.1

Nursery School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the senior leadership team. 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.

p.1

Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

p.2

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 opened to all pupils on 7 September 2020.  Attendance is above the school’s normal level for this time of year. All pupils are attending full time.  Pupils are studying the full range of subjects. You have adapted the curriculum in practical subjects. You are using the school’s outdoor space for pupils to practise music and design and technology. You have put additional coaching in place for physical education.  You have assessed pupils from Reception Year to Year 3 in reading and mathematics. You have identified gaps and arranged support for pupils to catch up.  In reading, you have assessed pupils’ new starting points and can see that some pupils have gaps in phonics knowledge. You have put additional staff in place to work with individual pupils to help them catch up.  In mathematics, you have allocated time at the start of each day for staff to work with small groups of pupils who have fallen behind. Staff are providing

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

additional guidance for pupils ahead of their mathematics lessons.  In history and geography, pupils are following their usual curriculum. You have identified gaps in pupils’ knowledge of science. You have adjusted the curriculum to teach science in separate blocks. This term, all topic work has a scientific focus.  You have organised the personal, social and health education (PSHE) curriculum to promote pupils’ well-being in light of their experiences of COVID- 19.  You have identified a need for children in early years to develop language skills and physical movement. You have organised the curriculum to promote communication and physical development and activity.  You have plans in place for remote learning should this be needed. You use an online learning log to communicate with parents and to provide pupils with schoolwork. You have aligned remote learning to the school’s normal curriculum. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

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 director of education for the diocese of Exeter, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Devon. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3