Setting

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

p.1

Alison Wyld Headteacher Harmans Water Primary School Wellington Drive Bracknell Berkshire RG12 9NE

p.1

Ofsted visit to Harmans Water Primary School

Following my visit with Lucy English, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 22 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 Harmans Water 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 Harmans Water 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 Harmans Water Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and members of your 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. 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:

 The school opened to Years 1 to 6 on 3 September 2020 with the expectation that pupils attend full time. Children in early years had a slightly longer introduction to school than normal and started full time on 14 September.  Pupils’ attendance is in line with what it was at this point last year.  Pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. Teachers have made temporary changes to the curriculum to prioritise reading and help catch up on other areas missed last term. You anticipate a return to the school’s normal curriculum by summer 2021.  Teachers have tested what pupils remember in reading and mathematics. In other subjects, they check pupils’ knowledge prior to introducing new concepts. Teachers have changed the order in which some of the content is being taught in physical education, music, science, and design and technology.  Teachers have adapted their timetables to give more time to support younger

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

pupils’ phonics and early reading skills where this is needed. You have encouraged staff to support older pupils’ reading in school and at home.  You noticed that pupils generally need more help with their writing. Teachers have pinpointed pupils’ spelling, handwriting and stamina to write at length as priorities. Staff are focusing more on these aspects across a range of subjects.  Teachers have identified aspects of mathematics that pupils need to revisit before moving on to new concepts. Staff are concentrating on pupils’ mathematical vocabulary and reasoning skills in all year groups.  Remote education is provided to support self-isolating pupils to access their normal range of subjects. Parents and pupils can access this online or via paper-based copies. You have plans for how this will be used in the event of any full or partial school closures.

p.2

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.

p.3

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 Bracknell Forest. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3