Setting

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

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Jillian Hine Headteacher St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School The Mardens Ifield Crawley West Sussex RH11 0AQ

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Ofsted visit to St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School

Following my visit with Julie Sacket, 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 St Margaret’s Church of England 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 St Margaret’s Church of England 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 St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you, the deputy headteacher and the school business manager. We did not speak to pupils.

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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:

 You opened the school to pupils on 7 September 2020. Reception children started part time for the first three weeks of term. They have attended full time since 28 September 2020. A very small number of pupils currently attend on a part-time basis.  Pupils’ current attendance is above what it normally is at this time of year.  Pupils are studying all of the subjects they usually would. You have made some adaptations to practical aspects of a few subjects. For example, you have changed the way that singing is taught.  Teachers have checked pupils’ knowledge in English and mathematics in all year groups. They have used this information to provide extra support for pupils who need it, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  You have prioritised improving pupils’ phonic knowledge and reading. Staff have adjusted phonics teaching to make sure pupils catch up with any learning

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From this visit, inspectors noted that:

they have missed. Teachers in Years 3 to 6 are focusing on developing pupils’ comprehension skills.  Teachers have identified that pupils are less confident with their spelling and handwriting and have less stamina to write at length. They are providing pupils with opportunities to practise these aspects in a range of subjects in the wider curriculum.  In mathematics, teachers are particularly helping pupils to improve their calculation skills and their ability to retrieve mathematical facts quickly.  You have put plans in place to deliver all subjects remotely if needed. You are making arrangements so that all pupils can access online learning at home. Staff are being trained to create digital resources.

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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 director of education for the Diocese of Chichester, the regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for West Sussex. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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