3 Dimensions

3 Dimensions Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

DfE registration number 933/6207 Unique Reference Number (URN) 134909 Inspection number 410718 Inspection dates 13 December 2012 Reporting inspector Jill Bainton 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 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under

p.1

the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.2

To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

p.2

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

p.2

Purpose and scope of the inspection

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

p.3

Information about the school

3 Dimensions School is an independent special school which is registered to provide education for boys and girls with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and for pupils who have an autistic spectrum condition. It is set in a rural location near the town of Chard in Somerset. All pupils have additional learning needs associated with the acquisition of basic numeracy and literacy skills and almost all have failed to thrive in their previous educational settings. The school opened in 2004 and is registered for 12 pupils between 11 and 16 years of age. Currently nine pupils attend, eight of whom have a statement of special educational needs. It is owned by 3 Dimensions, a registered company. The company also owns three children’s homes in the area, which provide residential accommodation for almost all of the pupils.

p.3

Information about the school

The school seeks to develop pupils’ communication, social and independence skills through the provision of individual programmes within a safe and secure learning environment. It was last inspected in March 2012, when it met most, but not all, of the regulations.

p.3

Context of the inspection

The school submitted a series of three action plans following the inspection in March 2012 to address the shortcomings with respect to the regulations. These plans were evaluated in March, May and October 2012. They were found to lack sufficient detail to show how the school had fully rectified the weaknesses. This is the first progress monitoring visit to check the school’s implementation of the action plans.

p.3

Context of the inspection

At the request of the Department for Education, this visit also assessed the school’s readiness to accept its Key Stage 4 pupils into a new post-16 provision. The school had applied for this material change at the time of the March 2012 inspection, but the inspection found that the post-16 curriculum was insufficiently developed for the change to be recommended.

p.3

action plan

The inspection in March 2012 found that the quality of the curriculum was satisfactory. It was supported by a clear set of aims and covered all of the required areas of learning. However, given that almost all pupils had low levels of Independent school progress monitoring inspection report performance in reading and writing, the teaching of literacy was not reflected adequately in the curriculum planning. In addition, some pupils’ statements of special educational needs specified full access to all the subjects of the National Curriculum, which the school did not provide. The school planned to address these shortcomings through adopting a commercial scheme to support curriculum planning across all subjects. As a result of implementing the scheme, the school’s curriculum planning is now fully satisfactory. There is a good focus in the planning upon developing pupils’ literacy skills so that reading standards are improving, and all pupils now have access

p.3

action plan

to the full range of National Curriculum subjects.

p.4

action plan

The March 2012 inspection found that the school held a range of information on pupils electronically and in pupils’ files. However, this information was not kept in a single admission register as required. The school now keeps an admission register in accordance with regulations. The March inspection found that one of the pupils’ toilets did not offer sufficient privacy and there were no medical facilities for pupils who might be ill. These weaknesses have been rectified. All of the toilets now offer suitable privacy and there is a suitable medical facility in the school.

p.4

action plan

The inspection of March 2012 found that parents, carers and others were not told that they could have access to a number of school policies. The school now makes it clear through the school handbook that these are available.

p.4

action plan

This inspection visit found that the school has developed a suitable curriculum for the proposed extension of its age range to enable Key Stage 4 pupils to remain in school post-16. The school’s application for this material change can therefore be recommended.

p.4

Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements. Independent school progress monitoring inspection report

p.4

Type of school

Special school for pupils with behavioural difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions

p.5

Type of school

Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 6 Girls: 3 Total: 9

p.5

special educational needs

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 3 Girls: 3 Total: 6

p.5

special educational needs

Annual fees (day pupils) £55,000 – £67,000

p.5

Address of school

Chardleigh House Chardleigh Green Wadeford Chard Somerset TA20 3AJ

p.5

Address of school

Email address team@3dimensionscare.co.uk

p.5