Park House School

Rainbow School for Autistic Children Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 212/6405 Unique Reference Number (URN) 134145 Inspection number 362868 Inspection dates 18 October 2010 Reporting inspector Mick Megee

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Published: achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information i n any way.

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Purpose and scope of the visit

This inspection visit was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 1 , as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 2 .

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Purpose and scope of the visit

The visit was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the school

Rainbow School is an independent day special school situated in London Borough of Wandsworth, in South West London. It opened in 2000, moved to its Earlsfield location in 2002 and was registered in 2003. Since the inspection, the school has opened a secondary department on an additional site on the other side of Wandsworth. The original site now only accommodates pupils up to and including Year 5. The school provides education for up to 20 pupils aged between five and 14 years. Currently there are 20 pupils on roll aged between six and 14, of whom three are girls. All pupils have statements of special educational needs related to autistic spectrum disorder and associated communication difficulties. The pupils are referred and funded by local authorities. The proprietors are the Trustees of the Rainbow Charity for Children with Autism.

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Information about the school

The school aims to offer a ‘structured programme of intensive intervention’ which is supported by the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and in particular Verbal Behaviour (VB), which is a branch of ABA. This focuses primarily on developing functional communication and language acquisition and encompasses social, play and independent skills. Another key aim is to reduce challenging behaviour to allow pupils access to a broad and balanced curriculum and to give pupils the learning skills they need to achieve their academic potential.

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Context of the visit

The school was last inspected in May 2010. At the time of that inspection, the school failed to meet two regulations. These involved the quality of the premises and accommodation and the provision of information. The school’s subsequent action plan to meet these regulations was evaluated and approved by Ofsted in June 2010. This is the first monitoring visit since the May inspection to check on the progress the school has made in implementing the action plan. The inspector observed the school’s work at both sites during the monitoring visit.

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Context of the visit

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 2 www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050018_en_15#sch8 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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action plan

The inspection of May 2010 found that the school did not meet the requirement to have suitable facilities for pupils who become ill during the school day. The school proposed in its action plan to provide a medical room, equipped with a wash basin and appropriate furniture. At its Earlsfield site, the school has now made available a small room next to the toilets, containing comfortable floor cushions, a wash basin, blankets and a locked medical cupboard. Although the room is sometimes used for other one-to-one activities such as water play, it can be speedily adapted in the event of a child becoming ill. The inspector also visited the new medical room on the second site. This room is not used for any other purpose. The room is spacious, well lit and very well decorated. There is a permanent bed, wash basin and locked medical cabinet. It is immediately adjacent to toilet facilities. As a result of these

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action plan

actions, the school now meets this requirement.

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action plan

The May 2010 inspection found that the school did not have in place procedures to ensure that local authorities received an annual account of income and expenditure incurred by the school for pupils from their own area. The school proposed in its action plan to provide the required information. The school now has in place an administrative system to ensure that such information is provided every year. The school now meets this regulation.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements. Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Unique reference number (URN)

Type of school Special school for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder and associated communication difficulties Status Independent Date school opened 2000 Age range of pupils 5–14 Gender of pupils Mixed Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 17 Girls: 3 Total: 20

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Address of school

Primary School: The Tram House 520 Garratt Lane London SW17 0NY Secondary School: 48 North Side Wandsworth Common SW18 2SL

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Telephone number

Primary School: 020 8879 7700 Secondary School: 020 3031 9700

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Fax number

020 8947 5300 Email address sallypalmer@rainbowschool.co.uk

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Proprietor

The Rainbow Charity for Children with Autism Reporting inspector Dr Mick Megee Dates of inspection 18 October 2010

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