Mortimer House School

Valley House Nuneaton Road, Fillongley, CV7 8DL

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Context of the inspection

This inspection was undertaken 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.

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Context of the inspection

The school had a full inspection in November 2012 where, although it was judged to provide a satisfactory quality of education, its provision for the welfare, health and safety of students was judged inadequate. A number of regulations were not met. These were in relation to the quality of education, students’ welfare, health and safety, the school’s premises and accommodation, and the provision of information and the manner in which complaints are handled.

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Context of the inspection

The school’s action plan was evaluated in March 2013, and significant improvement was needed.

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Context of the inspection

This inspection was carried out unannounced. On the day of the inspection neither the students nor the head teacher were in school. In view of this no judgement could be reached in relation to one aspect of the school’s action plan. However, meetings with school staff and scrutiny of relevant documents ensured that judgements could be made with regard to all other elements of the action plan.

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Regulations not met

The inspection of November 2012 found that lessons in the school were not sufficiently well planned and that effective teaching methods, suitable activities and the appropriate use of class time were not in evidence. Students were not always clear about the purpose of the activities they were carrying out. The school’s action plan identified a range of actions aimed at improving the planning of lessons. These included improvements to the structure of lessons, recording and evaluating the impact of lessons on students’ progress, ensuring that learning material was tailored to individual students’ specific needs, and detailed planning of students’ learning activities. As both of the school’s students were taking part in an educational outing on the day of the inspection it was not possible to observe any lessons so as to make an assessment of the improvements the school has made in this area. The last inspection also identified a shortage of classroom resources, in

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Regulations not met

particular in relation to information and communication technology and equipment for science teaching. Appropriate actions were identified in the action plan and these have been carried out so that this requirement is met. Each student is now provided with a laptop computer for his or her personal use and new science equipment has been procured. Monitoring report: Valley House, 26 June 2013 2 of 6

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Regulations not met

The inspection of 2012 found that students did not develop a broad basic knowledge of English services and institutions. The school’s actions to remedy the situation included enhancing the curriculum and schemes of work for citizenship and for personal, health and social education (PHSE). This monitoring inspection found that school has carried out these actions adequately. A suitable new scheme of work has been adopted and relevant new learning materials have been purchased. The requirements of the standard related to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students are now met.

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Regulations not met

The provision the school makes for the welfare, health and safety of students was judged to be inadequate at the last inspection. This was primarily because staff members were not trained in child protection to the required level and because the child protection policy did not have regard to relevant Department for Education guidance. In addition, there were deficiencies in the school’s policy to counter bullying, the way it planned and evaluated educational trips and visits, and the manner in which it recorded the admission of students to the school. The action plan included additional staff training, and reviewing and updating the relevant policies and documents. The head teacher, who is the designated child protection officer (DCPO), has now received the required advanced training. The deputy DCPO is also trained to this level. All teachers have now received suitable training in child protection and the school’s safeguarding policy has been reviewed and revised and

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Regulations not met

now meets requirements. The anti-bullying policy has been reviewed and updated. Staff training has taken place, aimed at ensuring that all staff understand the school’s strategy to counter bullying. Specific attention has been paid to cyber bullying, in particular the potential dangers of inappropriate use of social media and mobile phones. Educational trips and visits are now well planned. All staff involved in educational visits are now required to sign a form to indicate that they know and will implement the school’s policy on health and safety in connection with educational trips and visits. The school’s admission register now contains all the required information. The requirements for all the standards related to the welfare, health and safety of students are now met.

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Regulations not met

At the last inspection, although the school had carried all the required checks to ensure that staff and members of the proprietorial body were suitable to work with children, it had not gathered these together into a single central register, as required. Because of this the school failed all the regulations that refer to the content of the single central register of checks. A suitable single central register has now been produced. It contains all the required information about all staff members and members of the proprietorial body. The requirements for this standard are now met.

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Regulations not met

One regulation regarding the premises and accommodation at the school was not met at the last inspection and it remains unmet following this monitoring inspection. It relates to the security of the premises. There are said to be plans to remedy the deficit. However, no evidence of any detailed plans or costings was available. The requirements are not met.

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Regulations not met

The November 2012 inspection identified some gaps in the information that the school is required to provide for parents, carers and others. This monitoring inspection found that all the required actions have now been taken. The school prospectus now supplements a range of other helpful information made available by the proprietor and ensures that all the required information for parents, carers and others is provided or made available. The safeguarding children policy is provided for all prospective and actual parents and carers. Parents and carers of current students are asked to sign a form to indicate that they have read the policy and that they accept the information provided in it. Financial information is now provided annually to all the local authorities who fund the students’ placements. The Monitoring report: Valley House, 26 June 2013 3 of 6

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Regulations not met

requirements of this standard are now met.

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Regulations not met

At the time of the last inspection the schools complaints policy did not have all the required elements of a complaints policy for an independent school. The school has now reviewed and revised its complaints policy and all the required elements are now in place. The requirements for this standard are now met.

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Regulations’), and associated requirements

The school should ensure the health and safety of pupils by providing adequate security arrangements for the grounds and buildings. 23C

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requirement

The school should ensure that the teaching involves well-planned lessons, effective teaching methods, suitable activities and appropriate management of class time. 3(c) Monitoring report: Valley House, 19 June 2013 4 of 6

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Inspection team

John Gush , Lead inspector Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 Valley House is a small school catering for residential students. It is located in rural accommodation in Warwickshire owned by Young Foundations Limited. It was registered in May 2007 as a school providing for up to six students aged from 12 to 17 years with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties and those with autistic spectrum disorder.  There are currently two students on roll. Both students have a statement of special educational needs and both are looked after children. The school aims to re-engage students in education, enable them to develop cooperative and interpersonal skills and to acquire study skills necessary to realise their learning potential.  The school was last inspected in November 2012. Monitoring report: Valley House, 19 June 2013 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 135259 Inspection number 422680 DfE registration number 937/6205 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. Type of school Special school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 12–17 years Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 2 Number of part time pupils 0 Proprietor Young Foundations Ltd Chair Barbara Thompson Headteacher Cheryl Lester Date of previous school inspection 7 November 2012 Annual fees (day pupils) £46,000 Telephone number 01676 542875 Fax number 01676 542875 Email address Cheryllester@youngfoundations.com Monitoring report: Valley House, 19 June 2013 6 of 6

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School details

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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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