Setting

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

p.1

Deborah Eveleigh Headteacher Burlescombe Primary School Burlescombe Tiverton Devon EX16 7JH

p.1

Ofsted visit to Burlescombe Primary School

Following my visit with Nathan Kemp, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 13 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

Ofsted visit to Burlescombe 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Burlescombe 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Burlescombe Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the leader for teaching and learning. 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. In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

p.1

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:

 You opened the school on 7 September 2020. All pupils attend full time.  Pupils’ attendance is in line with what you would expect at this time of year.  Pupils are studying all their usual subjects apart from French. You have adapted the afternoon curriculum by temporarily reducing the time for French to support pupils’ English language skills. You have also introduced longer lesson times for some other subjects such as science, and are providing extra curriculum time with earlier starts and later finishing times for pupils.  Teachers have used a range of assessments to check pupils’ knowledge and understanding in reading. They are adapting the teaching of phonics to pupils in Year 1 to allow time for pupils to read more complex texts. Teachers are increasing the time allotted for a range of reading activities, including independent reading, across the school.  Teachers have checked pupils’ knowledge of mathematics to provide additional

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

support where necessary. For example, pupils in Years 5 and 6 are reviewing their knowledge of fractions. You plan to use the Covid-19 catch-up premium to provide additional support for pupils’ mental health and well-being and for their attainment in reading, writing and mathematics.  You have plans for pupils to access remote learning in all subjects via the school’s website and additional online resources should it be needed. Paper- based materials will be provided for pupils who do not have access to online devices. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

p.2

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

p.3