Setting

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

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Ed Dawson Headteacher Hatch Warren Junior School Gershwin Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG22 4PQ

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Ofsted visit to Hatch Warren Junior School

Following my visit with James Broadbridge, Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI), to your school on 5 October 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 Hatch Warren Junior 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 Hatch Warren Junior 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 Hatch Warren Junior School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher and the chair of governors. 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.

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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:

 The school opened fully to all pupils on 4 September 2020.  Pupils’ attendance is similar to this time last year. A small number of pupils had to self-isolate at the start of the term. You report that pupils are enthusiastic about being back at school.  Pupils are learning the same range of subjects as they normally would. This year, you have slimmed down what is taught in some subjects to devote more time for pupils to catch up on missed learning in English and mathematics.  You have adjusted the curriculum in some areas and other ways the school works. For example, assemblies are pre-recorded, and pupils now choose books from class trolleys, rather than from the library. The music curriculum has been adapted. You are disappointed to have had to cancel residential visits.  You have identified that pupils in Year 3 have gaps in their knowledge of phonics. Teachers are adapting what and how they teach to help pupils to

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

catch up. Additional training for teachers in phonics reflects the importance you are giving to reading. You are prioritising pupils’ reading across the school, especially focusing on fluency and stamina.  In mathematics, teachers have identified some areas where pupils need extra teaching to secure important knowledge. Teachers are teaching this knowledge before moving on to new content.  Teachers and teaching assistants are providing individualised support for those who need it, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  Pupils who are self-isolating can access work on the school’s website or through packs which you send home. This covers the curriculum content being taught in school. You have bought a new online system so that, should it be needed in the future, the curriculum can be delivered remotely in an interactive way.

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

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