Park View Academy

Progress monitoring school report Park View Academy 146-148 Parkview Road, Welling, DA16 1SR

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Context of the inspection

 This unannounced inspection was made 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.  This is the second visit to the school to follow up its progress since its last full inspection on 5–7 June 2013 when it was judged inadequate. Following the previous progress monitoring inspection in February 2014, the school submitted an action plan to the Department for Education which was accepted in May 2014.

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Curriculum

 The previous monitoring inspection judged that all the Independent School Standards for the curriculum were met. Schemes of work are developing and senior leaders are aware of the areas for further improvement; for example, some plans lack detail and would benefit from extension.  The school provides access to a range of suitable therapy and counselling, as set out in students’ statements of special educational needs. However, the school is not providing appropriate careers guidance to help students understand the links between their courses of study and possible future pathways. This means that not all the requirements for the curriculum are now met.

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Teaching and assessment

 The previous full inspection and the last monitoring inspection judged that all the Independent School Standards for teaching and assessment were met. Since that time, there have been staff changes and the new teachers do not yet have a good understanding of the aptitudes and prior attainment of all students.  Students enjoy the individual sessions when they have focused support to improve reading and writing. Evidence suggests that many students are making better progress in these sessions.  In larger class groups, assessment information is not always used to set work that is at the right level for each student. This leads to a lack of challenge and a slow pace of learning for some students, while others rely too heavily on adult support to complete their work.  As a result of the weaknesses noted above, requirements for the quality of teaching and assessment are not now met in full.

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Welfare, health and safety

 The monitoring inspection in February found that arrangements to safeguard students were inadequate because child protection training for staff was out of date and the school safeguarding policy did not cover all the required areas. In the school action plan the proprietor undertook to provide training and review the policy. Staff have received suitable training and are aware of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns. Evidence shows that appropriate action is taken following safeguarding issues, incidents are recorded properly and the Monitoring report: Park View Academy, 1 October 2014 2 of 6

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Welfare, health and safety

appropriate agencies are involved. Some improvements have been made to the policy, for example links are now made to other key policies. However, this standard remains unmet because the policy does not make clear: − how allegations of abuse against the headteacher or proprietor will be managed − details of how children will learn about staying safe, or how parents and carers will be informed about the policy − the time frame and formal reporting of concerns to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) of a member of staff who leaves the school during investigation of an allegation of abuse, or is dismissed as a result of an investigation − the training requirements for staff. Furthermore, while the school has a policy for staff on data management and the use of information and communication technology, it does not have a policy on e-safety relating to students.  The monitoring inspection in February found that that the school did not have a fully trained

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Welfare, health and safety

health and safety officer and staff had not received sufficient training in health and safety and food hygiene. Also, incidents and accidents were not recorded systematically. As identified in the action plan, staff have received the required training and the deputy headteacher has assumed responsibility for health and safety. Appropriate risk assessments and checks on the premises are carried out and incidents are recorded systematically.  The school has thorough procedures in place for following up any absences. However, attendance registers are not kept as required because they do not always record when a student is excluded.

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Suitability of staff

 The monitoring inspection in February found that two of the Independent School Standards were not met. This was because the single central record did not include details of the checks made on agency staff to ensure their suitability to work with young people. The checks are now made and recorded on the single central register as required.

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Accommodation and premises

 The monitoring inspection in February found that four of the Independent School Standards for the accommodation and premises were not met. The school did not provide: changing and showering facilities for use after physical education; separate toilets for students and staff; suitable accommodation for the medical examination of students; and facilities for treating unwell, injured or sick students. Modifications to the accommodation have rectified these failures.

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(England) Regulations 2010, as amended, and associated requirements

 Provide appropriate careers guidance for students receiving secondary education (paragraph 2(2) (g)).  Ensure that teaching involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time (paragraph 3(c)).  Ensure that teachers show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of students and ensure that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons (paragraph 3(d)).  Ensure that a framework is in place to assess students’ work regularly and thoroughly and that teaching uses information from that assessment to plan teaching so that students can progress (paragraph 3(g)).  Ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of students at the Monitoring report: Park View Academy, 1 October 2014 3 of 6

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(England) Regulations 2010, as amended, and associated requirements

school and that these arrangements have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7).  Ensure that the attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraph 17). Monitoring report: Park View Academy, 1 October 2014 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Andrew Redpath, Lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector John Gush Additional Inspector

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Information about this school

 Park View Academy is a co-educational special day school registered for 25 students aged seven to 19 years.  Students experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties and about a third have an autistic spectrum disorder. Most have been excluded, or were at risk of exclusion, from local schools.  Currently, there are 18 students on roll aged eight to 18 years. All have a statement of special educational needs and have their places funded by their local authorities.  The school uses alternative provision for physical education. A few students, who have a history of non-attendance at their previous school, are receiving a package of support which includes the school providing education at home.  The school was registered in June 2012 and received its first full inspection in June 2013. A monitoring inspection took place in February 2014.  The current headteacher joined the school in September 2014. Previously, the school had been

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Information about this school

led by a senior teacher on secondment from a local special school. Monitoring report: Park View Academy, 1 October 2014 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 138386 Inspection number 450685 DfE registration number 303/6000 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 inserted by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005.

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School details

Type of school Special school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 7–19 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 18

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form

Number of part time pupils 2 Proprietor Philip Hoppenbrouwers Headteacher Michelle Lawrence Date of previous school inspection 5–7 June 2013 Annual fees (day pupils) £29,250 Telephone number 020 8301 2685 Email address mailbox@asdlearning.com Monitoring report: Park View Academy, 1 October 2014 6 of 6

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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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