Setting

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

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Dylan Yates Interim Headteacher Chapel Green School Attleborough Road Old Buckenham Norfolk NR17 1RF

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Ofsted visit to Chapel Green School

Following my visit with John Mitcheson, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 3 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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Ofsted visit to Chapel Green 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.

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Ofsted visit to Chapel Green 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 visit to Chapel Green School

During the visit, we spoke to you and other senior leaders. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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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 (coronavirus) pandemic. 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 the visit, no class ‘bubbles’ had needed to isolate so far this term. Since September, 23 pupils have had absences linked to COVID-19 and have spent some time studying from home. At this special school, a few pupils with complex medical needs, following clinical advice, are yet to return to school.  On returning to school, pupils followed a ‘recovery’ curriculum. Staff used this time to assess pupils’ social, emotional, physical and academic development, while helping them to develop resilience and build engagement.  Staff noted that some pupils had become more independent, with better self- care skills. Other pupils’ physical development had slowed. Some pupils had not accessed their usual therapies. Staff provide additional therapy time to help pupils make up lost ground.  Pupils study their full range of subjects. However, there are changes to how staff deliver some subjects, including computing and catering.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 Older pupils have less community contact than they typically would. They have not visited local shops, run the school cafe or taken part in work experience. Staff plan different activities to help pupils to gain similar skills.  Leaders’ initial findings show a mixed picture of where pupils are in their learning. You found that some pupils have progressed well, and are ready to return to their normal timetables. Other pupils have slipped back in some areas, for example in their fluency when blending sounds. Staff provide targeted interventions and the additional COVID-19 funding will be used to help bridge these gaps.  Staff provide a remote curriculum for any pupils who are unable to attend school due to COVID-19 restrictions. Pupils follow a personalised programme linked to their individual needs and the targets in their education, health and care plans. Staff work with parents to help them support their children.

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

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