Setting

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

p.1

Mary Ann Cooper Headteacher Bushey and Oxhey Infant School Aldenham Road Bushey Hertfordshire WD23 2QH

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Bushey and Oxhey Infant School

Following my remote visit with David Milligan, 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 Bushey and Oxhey Infant 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 Bushey and Oxhey Infant 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 Bushey and Oxhey Infant School

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

 There were no year-group ‘bubbles’ isolating at the time of the visit. Since the start of the academic year, approximately one-sixth of pupils have had to work from home while they have been isolating.  Teachers have carried out checks in English and mathematics at several points during the autumn term. Teachers are using the information from these checks to plan extra support to help pupils catch up. They are spending more time on English and mathematics.  You told us that targeted group reading sessions are to help pupils improve their confidence and fluency when reading aloud. Pupils in all year groups are having extra phonics lessons.  Pupils are writing more frequently to help them to build their stamina for writing. Teachers are focusing on reminding pupils about previously taught knowledge of grammar and spelling to help pupils use this accurately in their writing.  Teachers have found that pupils’ recall of basic number facts and calculation

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

methods is not as strong as it used to be. Pupils have additional time each day to practise what they are learning in mathematics. This is helping them revisit and remember what they have previously been taught. Staff also use this time to address pupils’ misunderstanding of concepts that have come about because of lost learning.  Pupils are studying the full range of subjects but not in as much detail as usual. Teachers are taking account of planned learning that pupils have missed. Teachers are giving more time to pupils’ personal, social and health education.  You have planned remote learning opportunities for pupils who are isolating at home. Pupils follow, as far as is possible, the same lessons that are taking place in school. You have planned for a move to online learning for year- group bubbles should this be required.

p.2

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.

p.3

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 Hertfordshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3