Setting

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

p.1

Karen Reeves Headteacher Monkleigh Primary School Monkleigh Bideford Devon EX39 5JY

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Monkleigh Primary School

Following my remote visit with Tracey Reynolds, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 24 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 Monkleigh 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. 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 Monkleigh 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to Monkleigh Primary School

During the visit, we spoke to you. 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.1

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 small number of pupils have had to work from home since the start of the autumn term 2020.  Pupils are studying the full range of subjects. You have given physical education a high priority within the curriculum to promote pupils’ fitness.  Teachers have carried out checks on pupils’ reading and writing. In response, you have adapted the curriculum for Years 3 and 4 to allow time to reinforce pupils’ prior learning. You are providing extra lessons before and after school for pupils who need to catch up.  You have found that pupils in Reception need extra support with their communication and language skills as well as their reading. These pupils are attending short after-school sessions, when needed.  Your assessments in mathematics have shown that pupils have lost some of their fluency with numbers. This is a focus for whole-class teaching this autumn term 2020. Pupils are using online resources to revise number facts.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

You have arranged online tutoring for pupils with particular gaps in their knowledge.  In the wider curriculum, teachers make checks on what pupils know and have remembered before planning learning. Where pupils have missed essential knowledge, teachers summarise this before presenting new information.  Pupils who need to work from home are receiving remote education. Teachers provide instruction and feedback based on what is being taught in school each day. You are providing work in printed form and additional physical resources for pupils and families, as needed.  In the event that a ‘bubble’ is required to work from home, you intend that pupils will have a daily live lesson in reading and writing. This will include teaching of phonics (letters and the sounds they represent) for pupils in Reception through to Year 2.

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 regional schools commissioner and the director of children’s services for Devon. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3