Setting

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

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Abigail Huggins Headteacher St Andrew’s Benn Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School Chester Street Rugby Warwickshire CV21 3NX

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Aided) Primary School

Following my remote visit with Heather Simpson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 1 December 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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Aided) 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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Aided) 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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Aided) 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:

 Around 75% of pupils have spent some time isolating at home since the start of the term. Pupils in a mixed Year 3 and Year 4 class were isolating at the time of the visit. This class has isolated on two occasions.  Pupils are studying all their usual subjects. You told us that pupils are not going on educational visits or learning to swim at present. Your aim is to return to the usual curriculum by summer 2021.  Staff have checked pupils’ starting points in reading. These checks have helped you identify those who have fallen behind. You told us that pupils in Years 1 and 2 are receiving extra help in phonics. In addition, adults are focusing on comprehension skills during class reading sessions.  Teachers’ checks have shown them that some pupils are finding writing more challenging than usual. You told us that building pupils’ stamina in writing is a key priority. Teachers have increased the opportunities for pupils to write in

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

history, geography and science.  Teachers have made checks on what pupils remember from previous mathematics lessons. These checks have shown you that pupils are less confident in recalling key mathematical facts than you would usually expect. Staff have focused on helping pupils to practise number work at the start of every mathematics lesson.  Leaders have designed an approach to help pupils learn from home. Part of this approach is to provide access to online resources, including pre-recorded lessons. You told us that teachers are available during the school day to answer pupils’ questions and support those who are isolating as part of a class ‘bubble’.

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

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