Setting

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

p.1

Michael Scott Headteacher Someries Infant School Wigmore Lane Luton Bedfordshire LU2 8AH

p.1

Ofsted visit to Someries Infant School

Following my visit with Fiona Webb, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), to your school on 10 December 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 visit to Someries Infant 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.

p.1

Ofsted visit to Someries Infant 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 visit to Someries Infant School

During the visit, we spoke to you and the deputy headteacher. We did not speak to pupils because of the protective measures in place.

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

p.1

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:

 Since September 2020, no year-group ‘bubbles’ have been isolating. Approximately one tenth of pupils have had to learn from home for short periods this term.  Pupils are studying their usual range of subjects. In subjects such as design and technology, and religious education, teachers have adapted their plans to include the learning that pupils missed in the summer term.  In September 2020, teachers carried out checks in reading, including phonics. They are giving pupils more time to practise their phonics and reading this term than they normally do.  Pupils have fallen behind with their handwriting. Teachers are providing daily support to help pupils remember how to form their letters correctly and write fluently.  Teachers have identified the mathematics knowledge that pupils missed while they were not in school. Additional time is being spent on revisiting the learning that pupils have forgotten before teachers move the learning on.

p.2

From this visit, inspectors noted that:

 For the first two weeks of term, Year 1 pupils spent their afternoons in the early years setting. This helped pupils to catch up on some of the learning they lost when they were in Reception.  Parents of early years children do not come into the school building as they normally would. Leaders are using different approaches to communicate with parents about their children.  Leaders have plans in place in case pupils have to learn from home. Remote learning follows the school’s planned curriculum for English and mathematics. For other subjects, teachers give parents guidance on activities they can do with pupils at home that link to what they have been learning in school.

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

p.3