Wathen Grange School

P R O T E C T – I N S P E C T I O N Emergency inspection school report

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Wathen Grange School Church Walk, Mancetter, Warwickshire, CV9 1PZ

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Reason for inspection

This unannounced emergency inspection was made to the school at the request of the Department for Education in response to two anonymous complaints received in November 2011 and December 2012. The complaints refer to the quality of students’ welfare, safeguarding procedures and their implementation, and recruitment procedures and recording.

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Conclusions

The school’s arrangements to safeguard and promote students’ welfare do not meet regulatory requirements and this places students at risk of harm. The school’s systems to recruit staff, analyse and evaluate information from and about applications lack rigour. Staff recruitment files held at the school are disorganised and there are gaps in the completion of checks on the previous employment history and references for staff. The school’s policy of appointing staff through an agency omits the steps necessary to assure the candidates suitability to work with children. Long- and short-term supply staff are appointed through a recruitment agency. The agency completes a range of checks and provides the school with written confirmation. The proprietors were able to demonstrate that agency staff on site on the day of the visit had been checked appropriately by the agency. However, the school’s single central register does not include checks made on

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Conclusions

supply staff and does not meet regulatory requirements.

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Conclusions

There are weaknesses in the organisation of child protection records; key documents are missing from individual case files. Designated staff responsible for monitoring students on the child protection register have not followed this up and locate minutes of meetings and key records. The school’s child protection policy is in place. However, the proprietors have not reviewed the policy on an annual basis and the policy has not been updated to reflect changes in Disclosure and Barring processes. Safeguarding training is up to date for staff including for long-term agency supply staff. As a result staff are aware of the referral process and the line of referral to take to express concerns.

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Conclusions

Procedures to manage students’ behaviour and develop their self-esteem are well organised. There is a positive working climate around the classrooms and relationships are well-established between students and adults. An end of day briefing with all staff present is used effectively to review each student’s behaviour and achievement through the day. Staff actions are agreed for the following day and where appropriate, parents and carers Emergency inspection: Wathen Grange School, 14 February 2013. 2 of 5

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Conclusions

are contacted to inform them of rewards and sanctions imposed. This good practice ensures that students are clear about the systems to manage behaviour and they receive clear direction to improve their behaviour and self-discipline. The use of physical restraint is infrequent and records are well maintained and monitored by the headteacher. However, prior to its’ closure, there were occasions at the Leamington Spa site where the use of physical restraint has not been followed up appropriately by a senior member of staff.

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(Amendment) Regulations 2012 (‘the independent school standards’) and

 Ensure arrangements made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Paragraph 7

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(Amendment) Regulations 2012 (‘the independent school standards’) and

 In relation to staff not directly employed by the school, the register must show whether written notification has been received from the employment business that it has carried out the checks referred to in 20(2)(a) together with the date the written notification that each check was made or certificate obtained, was received. Paragraph 22 (5) Emergency inspection: Wathen Grange School, 14 February 2013. 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Mark Lindfield, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Joanne Harvey Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 Wathen Grange School offers day provision for students aged 11 to 18 years who have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.  The school previously operated from two sites. The original building in Leamington Spa closed in June 2012 and there are currently no students at this site. The main site opened in 2007 and is situated some 25 miles away in Mancetter, near Atherstone.  There are 14 students on roll.  All students have statements of special educational needs.  A number of senior leadership roles are being re-organised and three staff are due to leave the school in the next month. Emergency inspection: Wathen Grange School, 14 February 2013. 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 134614 Inspection number 420311 DfE registration number 937/6104 This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 162A of the Education Act 2002, as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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School details

Type of school Special day school School status Independent School Age range of pupils 11-18 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 13 Number of part time pupils 1 Proprietor Complete care Chair Jaspal Mangat Headteacher Diane Molyneux Date of previous school inspection 20–21 March 2012 Annual fees (day pupils) £45,000 to £55,000 Telephone number 01827 714454 Email address admin@completecare-warks.co.uk Emergency inspection: Wathen Grange School, 14 February 2013. 5 of 5

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School details

guidance 'Complaining about inspections', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

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School details

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School details

inspects to 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. Further copies of this report are obtainable from the school. Under the Education Act 2005, the school must provide a copy of this report free of charge to certain categories of people. A charge not exceeding the full cost of reproduction may be made for any other copies supplied. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille,

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School details

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School details

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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