Setting

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

p.1

Dawn Wigley Headteacher Ash Lea School Owthorpe Road Cotgrave Nottinghamshire NG12 3PA

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Ash Lea School

Following my remote visit with Stephanie Innes-Taylor, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 5 November 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 remote visit to Ash Lea 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. Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Ash Lea 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 remote visit to Ash Lea School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher and two assistant headteachers. We did not speak to pupils.

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 fully opened to all pupils on 3 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is currently in line with that normally seen for this time of year.  Pupils are studying their usual, bespoke curriculums, which relate to their individual education, health and care plans. Pupils are experiencing additional music and physical education lessons.  Teachers have checked where pupils need extra support. This additional help is focused on pupils’ personal, social and emotional needs. Pupils are currently unable to access swimming or hydrotherapy sessions.  Teachers have prioritised the teaching of reading and phonics. New books have been purchased to aid pupils’ communication, interaction and language skills. Staff have received training to help deliver these additional sessions.  Some curriculum content is being taught online. For example, pupils will experience a virtual pantomime, rather than visiting a local theatre.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Teachers will provide online learning for pupils to complete at home should the need arise. This learning matches the pupils’ current bespoke curriculums. Staff make home visits to aid those pupils who require extra support.

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. I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Nottinghamshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.2