Setting

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

p.1

Deborah Gibbon Headteacher The Jenny Hammond Primary School Elsham Road Leytonstone London E11 3JH

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to The Jenny Hammond Primary School

Following my remote visit with Lucy Bruce, 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to The Jenny Hammond 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to The Jenny Hammond 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to The Jenny Hammond Primary School

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

 At the time of the remote visit, only a small number of pupils have needed to isolate.  Pupils are studying the usual range of subjects. Leaders described how aspects of some subjects, such as physical education and music, have been adapted due to COVID-19.  Teachers have checked where there are gaps in younger pupils’ knowledge of the sounds that letters make. Additional time is being given to the teaching of phonics to support the pupils. Reading has been prioritised and leaders have introduced new resources so that pupils can access texts online.  In mathematics, leaders have identified that some pupils lack the understanding of how to apply their addition, subtraction, multiplication and division knowledge to answer problem-solving questions. Teachers are using time at the beginning of each session to practise problem solving.  Teachers have assessed where there are gaps in pupils’ knowledge of

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

geography and history. Teachers have accessed the local environment to support teaching in these subjects.  Pupils working remotely are provided with paper-based work packs. These packs support key skills in the subjects taught in class. Teachers have regular catch-up phone calls with pupils who are isolating. Staff are being trained to set work online should further restrictions be introduced. Thank you again for contributing to this important national work. The views and experiences you have shared will help to inform future policy.

p.2

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 Waltham Forest. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3