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

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Mary Collins Headteacher Wherwell Primary School Wherwell Andover Hampshire SP11 7JP

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Ofsted visit to Wherwell Primary School

Following my visit with Christopher Russell, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 22 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 Wherwell 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.

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Ofsted visit to Wherwell 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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Ofsted visit to Wherwell Primary School

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

 You opened the school to pupils in Years 1 to 6 on 3 September 2020, when they were expected to attend full time. Reception Year children started on 7 September 2020, initially part time. By 21 September 2020 they were also expected to attend full time.  Pupils’ rates of attendance are above those at this time last year.  Pupils are studying the school’s usual subjects across all year groups. Teachers have found that some pupils have caught up quickly on missed learning from the summer term. Other pupils need additional support. Teachers expect all pupils to be back on track with their learning by summer 2021.  Teachers have adjusted the types of books pupils are reading. Shorter texts are being used to increase pupil’s reading stamina and fluency, and to give time for discussions about the different themes that emerge. A new phonics programme is in place to help younger pupils learn their letters and sounds.

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 In mathematics, teachers have noted that pupils do not seem to be using the previously taught methods to show how they have reached an answer. Pupils are revisiting methods learned before, alongside using practical resources, to help them with their calculations.  You told us how much pupils are enjoying the technical aspects of subjects since the school fully reopened in September. This includes ‘acting like a geography expert’ while using atlases to find information. While COVID-19 restrictions have meant the school has not been able to come together to sing, you outlined plans to use the outdoor space as a possible solution later in the term.  You are currently providing remote education for the small number of pupils who are self-isolating at home. Activities and resources are uploaded daily and these mirror the learning in school. Training is in place for staff and pupils on how to use the school’s new online platform. All pupils will have access to the

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

school’s full curriculum remotely, if this is required.

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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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