Setting

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

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Jenny McDonald Acting Headteacher Knowle West Early Years Centre Leinster Avenue Knowle Bristol BS4 1NN

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Ofsted remote visit to Knowle West Early Years Centre

Following my remote visit with Julie Carrington, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 24 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 Knowle West Early Years Centre

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 Knowle West Early Years Centre

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 Knowle West Early Years Centre

During the visit, we spoke to you and two members of the senior leadership team. We did not speak to children.

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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:

 At the time of our visit, no children were self-isolating due to COVID-19. Since reopening in September, you have needed to close the school to all children for eight days.  Children continue to study all the areas of learning in the early years curriculum.  Staff are using their usual systems for checking what children know and can do. You told us that staff are using this information to match teaching to children’s individual needs.  You are prioritising learning outside to support children’s physical health and well-being. At present, 70% of learning time is outdoors.  Staff continue to focus on children’s personal, social and emotional development. You explained that a ‘personal welcome’ for each child at the start of the day is helping them settle quickly and feel safe in school. Staff are trained in trauma awareness to provide extra support for children who need it.  You told us that staff have increased their focus on showing children how to

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

form words and sentences to further their speech and language development. Staff weave stories, rhymes and songs into their teaching throughout the school day.  You have reflected on the remote learning you provide in light of feedback from parents. You have set up opportunities for staff to connect with parents to share activities that children could complete at home.

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

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