Setting

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

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Jason Webster Headteacher Eye CofE Primary School Eyebury Road Eye Peterborough Cambridgeshire PE6 7TD

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Ofsted remote visit to Eye CofE Primary School

Following my remote visit with Paul Wilson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 19 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 Eye CofE 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 Eye CofE 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 Eye CofE Primary School

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

 Since the start of school in September 2020, nearly 20% of pupils have experienced some time off while awaiting tests for COVID-19. Only a handful of pupils have needed more than a couple of days away from school. During these periods of absence, pupils had access to the school’s remote-education provision.  Pupils are studying all the subjects in the school’s curriculum. Leaders have added new approaches to collective worship, prayer and learning outdoors to help pupils think about any loss experienced because of COVID-19. Leaders have also provided enrichment within the curriculum through online visiting speakers and educational visits to places of natural interest.  Staff have checked what pupils know about what they have been taught. Staff are planning learning activities that help pupils review subject content taught last academic year. In English and mathematics, staff are also providing support groups for pupils who need to catch up.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Staff in Years 1 and 2 are paying particular attention to ensuring that pupils improve their reading by using phonics accurately.  In mathematics, staff are focusing on helping pupils in all years improve the way they solve complex mathematical problems.  In subjects other than English and mathematics, staff have been teaching parts of the curriculum by using different resources and locations around the school. Leaders have also changed aspects of the curriculum using suggestions from external specialists.  Leaders aim for pupils learning at home to follow the same curriculum and do similar learning activities as pupils learning at school. Leaders have used the views of parents and pupils to plan the school’s approach to remote education. The school’s remote education includes online and paper resources, depending on the needs of families.

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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, the director of education for the Diocese of Peterborough, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Peterborough. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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