Setting

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

p.1

Samantha Scott Executive Headteacher Market Drayton Infant and Nursery School Longslow Road Market Drayton Shropshire TF9 3BA

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Market Drayton Infant and Nursery School

Following my remote visit with Ian Tustian, Her Majesty's Inspector (HMI), to your school on 12 November 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Market Drayton Infant and Nursery 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Market Drayton Infant and Nursery 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Market Drayton Infant and Nursery School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the head of school, and the literacy, mathematics, science and music leaders. Some of these leaders are also responsible for safeguarding. We did not speak to pupils.

p.1

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.

p.2

Context

In undertaking this focused work, HMI are visiting a broad range of schools. HMI will visit a sample of:

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 A Reception class and a Year 2 class ‘bubble’ were isolating at the time of the visit.  Pupils are studying the full range of subjects. However, teachers have moved physical education activities which require a lot of equipment to later in the school year. Your intention is for pupils to return to their usual curriculum before the summer term 2021.  Phonics checks have shown that pupils in Years 1 and 2 have gaps in their phonic knowledge. Leaders have adjusted the content of the phonics curriculum in these year groups. Teachers’ checks have shown that pupils’ reading comprehension requires extra work. Consequently, you have a greater focus on comprehension during whole-class reading activities. In addition, leaders have reviewed the choice of texts used in these lessons.  Teachers’ checks have identified gaps in pupils’ mathematical knowledge and understanding in most areas, but to a lesser extent in number work. Teachers

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

are using this information to revisit previous work to address gaps in pupils’ knowledge.  In other subjects, such as science and music, leaders have integrated what pupils did not learn during the summer term into this year’s curriculum plans.  Currently, you are providing remote learning for two class ‘bubbles’ and some individual pupils who are self-isolating. You use an online learning tool to set work for most pupils. You told us that a small number of pupils do not have suitable devices in their homes, or one device is shared between several siblings. In response to feedback from parents, you use paper-based options when required.

p.2

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.

p.3

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

I am copying this letter to the chair of the governing body, the chair of the board of trustees, the chief executive officer of the Empower multi-academy trust, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children's services for Shropshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3