On Track Education Totnes

On Track Education Centre Totnes Paragon House, Ford Road, Totnes TQ9 5LQ

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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.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the school’s emergency inspection was completed in November 2014.  Following the emergency inspection, the school submitted an action plan to the Department for Education (DfE). The proposed action plan was accepted by the DfE in February 2014.

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Main findings

 The school’s admissions register does not comply with requirements set out in the 2006 Education regulations. Senior leaders have not followed up to ensure that in all cases the register is completed with the date that pupils ceased to attend the school.  At the time of the inspection, details of attendance of primary-aged pupils accessing provision at the West Yarner site were passed electronically to the Totnes Centre. However, they were not recorded in a register at the site. Currently, the small number of primary-aged pupils are receiving a full-time education by attending the West Yarner site each morning. They also access On Track Education Intervention outreach services, in the afternoon. These primary pupils are all from a single local authority and remain registered with their placing primary school because OnTrack Education is not currently registered by the DfE to provide education for primary-aged pupils.

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Main findings

 The school is in the process of transferring records of pupils’ daily attendance to an electronic register format. The school plans to ensure that the electronic register is accessible on a daily basis to the placing local authorities and those schools where pupils remain on roll. The current arrangements do not allow schools to record pupils’ daily attendance nor do they allow local authority representatives to monitor closely the punctuality and attendance of pupils they have placed at the school.  At the time of the inspection the school’s website did not include an up-to-date version of their safeguarding policy. The school was able to confirm that the policy had been reviewed and updated in September 2015 in compliance with statutory requirements. During the inspection, senior leaders uploaded the revised version to the website.  Staff have been appropriately trained in the school’s child protection procedures. Senior leaders

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Main findings

hold weekly meetings to review individual cases and agree further action. Files confirm that the school works with a range of agencies to share their concerns, including local authority designated safeguarding officers where appropriate.  Staff know and apply the school’s procedures to record concerns relevant to pupils’ safety and Monitoring report: On Track Education Centre Totnes, 3 November 2015 2 of 5

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Main findings

welfare. Logs of serious incidents provide a clear account of the nature of the incident, and the circumstances leading up to the case. However, pupils are not expected to sign records to ensure that accounts are accurate. Also, they are rarely encouraged to provide their views and agree actions to reduce the likelihood of reoccurence. It is noteworthy that the centre’s records show no serious incidents in the two months of this academic year compared to higher levels last year.  Fire risk assessments are completed by the school’s health and safety officers. Fire alarms at the different sites are checked regularly by staff and records kept on site. Firefighting equipment is monitored by an external company annually. Records of the completion of fire drills were not immediately available at each of the individual sites but senior leaders were subsequently able to provide written confirmation.  Leaders and managers have responded positively to the findings of the previous inspection.

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Main findings

Staff are deployed more flexibly so that they attend activities at the main school sites and also provide support off site. As a result of this more cohesive team approach, no pupils are required to complete online e-learning activities at home and instead are able to receive individual adult supervision off site.  The school provides pupils with an education that is closely matched to their needs. Individual timetables are drawn up for each pupil and the school provides full-time education for pupils of compulsory school age. Pupils are provided with opportunities to access a range of subjects at the school and receive adult supervision when educated off the school site.  Pupils present on the day of the inspection spoke positively about the school’s support in a range of subjects. In particular, pupils report their enjoyment in producing artwork using a range of styles and techniques and attending music sessions. Well-resourced workshops

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Main findings

encourage pupils to design and work with resistant materials, with staff helping them to develop contacts with local businesses and develop career opportunities.  The new site at West Yarner provides education for a group of primary-aged pupils and a small number of secondary pupils. Classrooms are spacious, well lit and well ventilated and feature bright and attractive displays of pupils’ work. The school intends to introduce additional perimeter fencing to increase opportunities for outdoor play. Currently pupils are closely supervised by staff.  Pupils’ mathematical work at West Yarner shows evidence that staff provide appropriately challenging activities. A more-able primary pupil solved mathematical problems using place value with five digit numbers. Pupils are encouraged to develop the English and mathematical skills around a central theme and planning is developed with the support of a qualified primary

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Regulations 2014 and associated requirements

 Ensure that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 (paragraph 15)  Ensure that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school; – demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that independent school standards are met consistently (paragraph 34(a)) – fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently (paragraph 34(b)) – actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(c)). Monitoring report: On Track Education Centre Totnes, 3 November 2015 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Mark Lindfield, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 The On Track Education Centre Totnes is an independent day special school. In conjunction with On Track Intervention Services Totnes, it provides full-time or part-time education for disabled pupils and those with a variety of special educational needs.  The school is located in an industrial estate in Totnes. It occupies three industrial units and also offers outreach services for pupils in the newly opened premises in West Yarner for primary- and secondary-aged pupils. Also, it has opened premises in Barnstaple in response to requests from Devon local authority to provide placements for pupils in North Devon.  Many of the pupils have been excluded from mainstream school, or have attended a number of other educational settings, prior to their placement at this school.  All pupils have a statement of educational needs. The vast majority attend full-time provision either at the site or through activities provided by centre staff at locations away from the

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Information about this school

school.  The school is registered for 48 full-time boys and girls aged between 11 and 19 years. Currently there are 40 pupils on the school roll, aged from 12 to 19 years. Almost all pupils come from Devon or Torbay and are funded by their local authorities or care providers.  The proprietor is On Track Education Services Limited, a not-for-profit company. The company owns five similar schools in different parts of the country.  The school opened in November 2005. Its last full inspection took place in May 2013, when the school’s overall effectiveness was judged to be good.  The school’s main aims are to provide an education that encourages young people to experience positive achievement and success, acquire a diverse range of skills and knowledge, and develop positive attitudes to learning.  The school aims to provide individual programmes which seek to build on pupils’ interests and knowledge. Pupils are entered for a range of accredited qualifications.

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Information about this school

Monitoring report: On Track Education Centre Totnes, 3 November 2015 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 131715 Inspection number 10004162 DfE registration number 878/6060

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School details

This inspection was conducted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008.

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School details

Type of school Independent special school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 11-18 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 40

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form

Number of part-time pupils 1 Proprietor On Track Education Services Ltd Chair Jane Cox, Jan Grayson and Penny Harris Headteacher Julie Dixon-Higgins Date of previous school inspection 24 November 2014 Annual fees (day pupils) £25,000–65,000 Telephone number 01803 866462 Fax number 01803 866462 Email address jdixon-higgins@ontrackeducation.com Monitoring report: On Track Education Centre Totnes, 3 November 2015 5 of 5

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guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/complaints-about-ofsted . 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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You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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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 and 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 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit

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

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