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

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Joanne Austin Headteacher Copdock Primary School School Hill Copdock Ipswich Suffolk IP8 3HY

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Ofsted remote visit to Copdock Primary School

Following my remote visit with Tessa Holledge, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 26 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 Copdock 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 Copdock 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 Copdock Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the deputy headteacher. 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:

 Leaders have organised the school into three ‘bubbles’. Since September, a small proportion of pupils have had to learn at home.  Pupils are studying the usual range of subjects. Some of the subject content is being taught in a different order than it would normally. Leaders plan for pupils to return to the school’s planned curriculum in January 2021.  In September, teachers checked what pupils remembered in English and mathematics. Teachers found that younger pupils had fallen behind in their reading, and most pupils had forgotten important knowledge in writing and in mathematics.  In Reception and Years 1 and 2, teachers are spending more lesson time on phonics, to help pupils catch up.  Pupils in Years 1 to 6 are revisiting the spelling and grammar knowledge they have forgotten. Teachers are providing extra opportunities for pupils to practise writing for longer periods of time and giving pupils the chance to use

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

the knowledge they are revisiting.  Teachers are providing daily support to help pupils recall forgotten learning in mathematics. Pupils are focusing on important knowledge that they need to calculate accurately when problem solving.  In the practical subjects, teachers have considered how the teaching content can be changed or adapted so that learning can take place outside.  Leaders have planned for pupils to be able to learn at home if necessary. If pupils do not have access to computers, paper copies are provided so pupils can still learn the same content they would be taught if they were learning in school.

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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 Suffolk county council. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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