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

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David Moss Headteacher Horizon Primary Academy Hilda May Avenue Swanley Kent BR8 7BT

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Ofsted remote visit to Horizon Primary Academy

Following my remote visit with Harry Ingham, 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.

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Ofsted remote visit to Horizon Primary Academy

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 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, we made this visit remotely to reduce pressure on the school.

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Ofsted remote visit to Horizon Primary Academy

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 remote visit to Horizon Primary Academy

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher, the special educational needs coordinator, the attendance officer and the pastoral leader. We did not speak to pupils.

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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 pandemic.

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Context

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:

 You opened the school to pupils on 3 September 2020. All pupils are expected to attend full time. Initially, Reception children started part time until 14 September 2020.  Pupils’ current attendance is above the level it normally is at this time of year.  During the first half of the autumn term, you focused the curriculum on reading, writing, mathematics, personal, social and health education and physical education (PE). Pupils are now studying their usual range of subjects, except music. You hope to return to the full curriculum by the summer term 2021.  Teachers have checked pupils’ knowledge in reading and mathematics. They have used the resulting information to adapt the curriculum and provide additional support for pupils who need it.  You have prioritised improving pupils’ phonic knowledge and reading. You have given more time to these areas in the curriculum. Teachers are providing pupils with opportunities to boost their fluency and love of reading.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 In mathematics, teachers are assisting pupils to build up their basic number and calculation skills. They are also helping pupils to practise and quickly recall mathematical facts, such as the times tables.  You have made some adaptations to practical aspects in a few subjects. For example, the PE teacher has selected sports that avoid the need for equipment to be shared between groups of pupils in ‘bubbles’.  Your staff send work to pupils who are self-isolating via email or they provide printed materials. This work matches the subjects being taught in school. You have put plans in place to deliver the curriculum remotely, should it be needed in the future.

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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 interim chair of the governing body, chair of the board of trustees, and the chief executive officer of The Kemnal Academies Trust multi- academy trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Kent. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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