Setting

Petra Jones Acting Headteacher Winterbourne Nursery and Infant School Winterbourne Road Thornton Heath Croydon CR7 7QT

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Infant School

Following my remote inspection with Jean Thwaites, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), of your school on 3 and 4 February 2021, I write on behalf of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills to confirm the findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions that have been taken to provide education to all pupils during the current circumstances.

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Infant School

This monitoring inspection was conducted under section 8 (2) of the Education Act 2005 (as amended) and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for visiting schools while routine inspections remain temporarily suspended. It was additional to the usual monitoring process for schools that are judged to require improvement.

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Infant School

Following changes to government guidance and the imposition of COVID-19 (coronavirus) lockdown restrictions, this monitoring inspection was carried out remotely. As such, the range of evidence available to inspectors was narrower than would normally be the case during an on-site inspection. As a result, this letter provides a more limited level of assurance than our usual monitoring reports.

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Infant School

The inspection took place because the school has received three successive judgements of requires improvement. The school’s most recent section 5 inspection took place in December 2019.

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Infant School

Having considered all the evidence and taking into account the impact of COVID-19 on the school, I am of the opinion that at this time:

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

to provide education in the current circumstances. Ofsted

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T 0300 123 1231 www.gov.uk/ofsted Leaders and those responsible for governance should take further action to:

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Leaders and those responsible for governance are taking effective action

 ensure that all parents are kept up to date and well informed about the actions taken to improve the school and to provide education for all pupils in the current circumstances.

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Context

 There have been significant changes to the leadership team since the time of the previous inspection in December 2019. You became acting headteacher in March 2020. Due to long term absences, you currently have no senior leadership team. Class teachers have stepped up to take on leadership responsibilities. You have recruited three teachers since the previous inspection, as well as new members to the governing body.

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Context

 No pupils had to be educated remotely during the autumn term of 2020.

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Context

 Currently, one fifth of pupils in key stage 1 are being educated on site. In the early years, about half of the children from the Nursery and a quarter of children from the Reception classes are attending on site. Over half of vulnerable pupils are being educated on site, along with about half of the pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

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Context

 There are currently four members of staff who are absent due to COVID-19. You have been able to reorganise staff to make sure that all pupils receive the remote education you planned for them.

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Main findings

 Leaders, governors and staff have thought carefully about how best to provide education for all pupils in the current circumstances. You have helped pupils and parents and carers to overcome significant barriers to accessing education from home. For example, you have provided data sim cards to families to access the internet. You have also staggered the timing of live online lessons so that siblings are able to share devices. Pupils receive detailed weekly timetables which give them links to live and recorded lessons. In addition, teachers send pupils links to a wide variety of other online resources. Paper-based learning packs are available for pupils who need them.

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Main findings

 Teachers provide a warm, nurturing start to each day with a live online session. They give clear guidance and support to pupils and parents about the day’s learning tasks. They focus on pupils’ well-being; they praise and encourage pupils’ efforts. Teachers have worked hard to develop their skills when teaching online.

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Main findings

 At the time of the previous inspection, leaders were at the early stages of developing the curriculum. Since you took up your post as acting headteacher, you and your staff have planned the current curriculum and have successfully implemented it during the time of the pandemic.

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Main findings

 You have adapted the planned curriculum in the current circumstances. Staff prioritise the development of spoken language and reading for all pupils who are on site or at home. Teachers are delivering all the school’s usual subjects. However, the practical content for design technology and science is not being taught. Teachers plan to deliver any missed content as swiftly as possible after all pupils return to school.

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Main findings

 Pupils receive recorded and live phonics lessons throughout the early years and key stage 1. Teaching staff demonstrate strong subject knowledge in this area. They show pupils how to apply their phonics skills in reading and writing. Pupils’ reading books are matched to meet their needs. Parents are given guidance on how to support their children with learning to read.

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Main findings

 All your vulnerable pupils are accessing education on site or at home. Staff have been vigilant in monitoring these pupils. They have supported vulnerable pupils to access learning effectively. Those who are at home are contacted by staff at least twice a week to check on their well-being and to support them with their learning.

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Main findings

 Pupils with SEND receive work related to their individualised support plans. In the current circumstances, staff review pupils’ learning on a daily basis. They provide targeted feedback and support to those pupils at home at least three times a week. Governors and leaders have made sure that support and therapies have continued.

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Main findings

 You have worked collaboratively with governors since taking up your post. They have met regularly and have visited the school to audit provision for pupils with SEND. Governors could do more to support you in keeping all parents up to date about the improvements at the school.

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Main findings

 There are a small minority of parents who are unhappy with the work of the school. Your website and other forms of communication with parents need to be strengthened and updated. Some parents have not been kept informed of how you have removed barriers to learning to provide education in the current circumstances.

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Main findings

 The local authority provides regular challenge and support to the school. They have helped you make key decisions about your current education provision.

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Evidence

This inspection was conducted remotely. We held meetings with the headteacher and other leaders, teachers, governors, the family liaison officer, and a representative of the local authority. These meetings were carried out to discuss leaders’ actions to provide education to all pupils during a national lockdown. We also sampled parts of live lessons and recorded lessons. We scrutinised curriculum documentation and reviewed the 60 responses to Parent View, Ofsted’s online questionnaire, and the 31 responses to the questionnaire for staff.

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Evidence

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Croydon. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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