Setting

CfBT Inspection Services Suite 22 West Lancs Investment Centre Maple View Skelmersdale WN8 9TG T 0300 1231231 Text Phone: 0161 6188524 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 01695 566863 Direct F 01695 729320 Direct email: jbennett@cfbt.com

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Mrs Helen Johnson Headteacher West Cumbria Learning Centre Toll Bar Distington Workington Cumbria CA14 4PJ

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Special measures monitoring inspection of West Cumbria Learning Centre

Following my visit to your centre on 3 April 2014, I write on behalf of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills to confirm the inspection findings. Thank you for the help you gave during the inspection and for the time you made available to discuss the actions which have been taken since the centre's recent section 5 inspection.

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Special measures monitoring inspection of West Cumbria Learning Centre

The inspection was the first monitoring inspection since the centre became subject to special measures following the inspection which took place in December 2013.

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Evidence

During this inspection, meetings were held with the headteacher, interim deputy headteacher, staff, the Chair of the Management Committee and two representatives of the local authority. The local authority's statement of action and the centre's improvement plan were evaluated. I also looked at teachers’ files, performance management targets, management committee minutes, and various other documents that support the centre’s self-evaluation document.

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Context

You joined the centre in January 2014 as interim headteacher and have subsequently been appointed as the permanent headteacher. An interim deputy headteacher was appointed in February 2014.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The centre’s action plan and the local authority’s statement of action tackle all the areas for improvement detailed in the previous inspection report. However, the allocation of pupil premium funding needs to be clarified by the local authority to ensure that the management committee is aware of its impact on learning, and can incorporate this into its review of governance. The local authority has conducted a review of the centre’s progress; offered advice and practical support through work scrutiny; brokered support from a National Leader of Education from the Pendlebury Centre in Stockport; and made arrangements for the centre staff to visit mainstream schools to observe and share good practice.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

A more robust sub-committee structure enables the management committee to offer improved support and challenge to the centre and this is reflected in the minutes of their meetings.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

You restructured the roles and responsibilities of staff in the centre to improve the monitoring by middle leaders and increase accountability. All teachers’ performance management targets are in line with the centre’s action plan to encourage rapid progress. Improved communication channels through weekly newsletters to staff and management committee members, increase awareness of your expectations and your drive for greater consistency across the centre. Teachers’ files are standardised to enable middle leaders to monitor the quality of lesson planning and its impact on students’ progress. The new marking policy is applied more consistently across the centre and improved feedback enables students to know how to correct and improve their work. Weekly meetings enable staff to discuss the impact attendance, behaviour and emotional well-being have on the academic progress of the students so staff can implement effective support.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Links with mainstream schools are improving as the transition processes into the centre and back to mainstream become quicker and clearer. There are increased referrals this term and a higher number of students re-integrated into mainstream schools. Parents are kept well- informed about changes within the centre.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

Following the monitoring inspection the following judgements were made:

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The local authority's statement of action is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The centre's improvement plan is fit for purpose.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

The centre may not appoint newly qualified teachers before the next monitoring inspection.

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The quality of leadership in and management of the school

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State, the Chair of the Management Committee, and the Director of Children's Services for Cumbria. This letter will be published on the Ofsted website.

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