Setting

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

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Coppermill Primary School Edward Rd Walthamstow London E17 6PB

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Ofsted remote visit to Coppermill Primary School

Following my remote visit with Phil Garnham, 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 Coppermill 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. 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 Coppermill 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.

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Ofsted remote visit to Coppermill Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the assistant headteacher, the attendance officer and the school business manager. 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:

 The school opened to Years 1 to 6 on 7 September 2020. Reception pupils attended part time for the first week of term. All pupils have attended full time since 14 September 2020.  Attendance is slightly above average for this time of year. Children in the Nursery, Reception and Year 1 were working at home on the day of the remote visit.  Pupils are learning the school’s usual range of subjects. In some subjects, you have made a few small changes, including to the use of equipment in physical education lessons and the frequency of singing in music. Leaders plan to return to the school’s usual curriculum as soon as the changes are no longer necessary.  At the beginning of the school year, teachers checked pupils’ knowledge of phonics. Many had forgotten some letter sounds. Teachers have adapted their phonic sessions to allow pupils to relearn and practise sounds that they had forgotten.  Teachers have also checked what pupils remember in mathematics. They have

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

identified that there are gaps in pupils’ understanding of multiplication and division in Year 2. In addition, pupils in Year 3 have gaps in their understanding of number value. Teachers have changed their lesson plans to cover these areas and are providing small-group teaching for pupils who need further support.  In other subjects, teachers are checking pupils’ starting points and adapting their planning to cover any gaps. Leaders intend to review subject plans for future years to cover any missed learning.  Leaders have prepared to teach remotely if necessary. They have focused on teaching English and mathematics. Now they are looking at developing remote learning in other subjects.

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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 chair of the governing body and the director of children’s services for Waltham Forest. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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