Setting

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

p.1

Kelvin Geary Headteacher New Milton Junior School Old Milton Road New Milton Hampshire BH25 6DS

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to New Milton Junior School

Following my remote visit with Louise Walker, 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 New Milton 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. 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 New Milton 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.

p.1

Ofsted remote visit to New Milton Junior School

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

 Approximately one third of pupils have had to work from home at some point since September.  Pupils are studying all subjects in the school’s usual curriculum apart from some aspects of music and physical education. Teachers have made adaptations to the teaching of singing and changed the musical instruments that pupils use. They are also focusing on improving pupils’ fitness.  Teachers’ assessments have highlighted that pupils need support with their concentration levels, independence and stamina when completing tasks.  Leaders are giving reading a high priority. Across all year groups, teachers are providing additional reading opportunities for pupils who need help to catch up. Leaders have introduced a range of new texts to maximise pupils’ fluency and extend their vocabulary.  In mathematics, teachers are helping pupils’ confidence in using different calculation methods. Teachers have identified mathematical concepts that

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

have been missed. They plan to include these aspects in their teaching.  Across subjects in the wider curriculum, leaders have reviewed the knowledge that pupils have missed. They have considered the content that pupils need to know and adapted their planning accordingly.  When individual pupils have to work remotely, they are provided with printed materials for the first two days of their absence. After this, they are set work online. This matches the learning taking place at school.  In October, a Year 4 ‘bubble’ had to work from home. Each day, teachers taught live lessons in English, mathematics and other subjects. This approach will be used if it is needed in the future. Leaders have made arrangements for pupils to be able to access online learning at home.

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 Hampshire. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.3