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

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Tijhs Jordan Acting Headteacher Marnel Junior School Shetland Road Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 9PT

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Ofsted visit to Marnel Junior School

Following my visit with James Broadbridge, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 3 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.

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Ofsted visit to Marnel 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 Marnel 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 Marnel Junior School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher and the school’s family liaison officer. 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 to pupils on 3 September 2020 with the expectation that all pupils attend full time.  Pupils’ attendance is above what it was at this point last year. At the time of this visit, one Year 3 class ‘bubble’ and nine members of staff were self- isolating, and so were not in school.  Pupils are currently studying all subjects of the national curriculum. Teachers have adjusted their plans, to help pupils catch up on aspects of subjects missed during the period when schools were only open to some children due to COVID-19 restrictions. After-school activities and clubs are not currently being offered. You anticipate a return to a full curriculum by summer 2021.  Teachers have tested what pupils can remember in English and mathematics. In other subjects, they check pupils’ knowledge prior to introducing new concepts. Teachers have changed the order in which some of the content is being taught in personal, social and health education (PSHE), science, art and

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

music.  You are prioritising reading across the school. Teachers have introduced daily phonics lessons for pupils in Years 3 and 4. Checks have been made on pupils’ reading and comprehension skills, and additional support is being provided for those who need it.  Teachers have identified aspects of mathematics that pupils need to revisit before moving on to new concepts. Staff are concentrating on pupils’ use of mathematical vocabulary and reasoning skills in all year groups.  You have plans to provide remote education to support self-isolating pupils to access their normal range of subjects. Parents and pupils can access resources online or via paper-based copies.

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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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