Philpots Manor School

Progress monitoring inspection residential special school report

p.1

Philpots Manor Residential Special School. Philpots Manor School, West Hoathly, West Sussex, RH19 4PR

p.1

Context of the inspection

The residential provision at Philpots Manor School was inspected in March 2015 and was given an inadequate judgement for overall effectiveness. The inspection identified that three national minimum standards for residential special schools were not met. The Department for Education served a statutory notice in April 2015 and the school completed an action plan to address the weaknesses. This inspection found that the three national minimum standards not met at the last inspection have now been met.

p.1

Context of the inspection

This unannounced progress monitoring inspection took place to establish whether the schools action plan has been fully implemented and the school is able to demonstrate that it meets all the standards required for continued registration as a residential special school.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

During the inspection in March 2015, three national minimum standards for residential special schools were unmet.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The March 2015 inspection identified that medication was not securely stored or administered as prescribed in one of the residential units. Both preventative and reliever inhalers were being incorrectly administered. This demonstrated a lack of understanding by the care staff. Action taken since the last inspection has resulted in the safe administration of medicines and improved understanding of medication by staff. In addition, there is now safe storage of medicines in the residential unit. Staff have received training in medication adminstration and have improved the assessments process for individual children being able to self adminster medication, where appropriate.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Investigations into safeguarding concerns are more rigorously managed with improved contact with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for West Sussex. This has led to a review of the schools child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures. A designated team of staff with safeguarding responsibilities meets regulary to ensure concerns are referred to and actioned by the correct agencies, and are closely monitored. Overall, all aspects of safeguarding concerns are more robustly managed. Allegations of inappropriate physical interventions or contact with staff are now referred to the safeguarding agencies in a timely manner. Staff have received further training on behaviour management methods and complete records that are more closely monitored by the management and leadership team. Changes to sleeping arrangments have resulted in each child and young person having their own bedroom; no child or young person shares a

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

bedroom. Increased night time supervision means the risk of children and young people entering each others rooms has decreased significantly. Data analysis of bullying incidents has been improved and specific types of bullying can now be identified and acted upon. Inspection Report <setting name>,<inspection date> Page 2 of 6 There has been a revision of the management structure that includes the recruitment of a new care co-ordinator. The newly employed care co-ordinator has a wealth of experience of working with children and young people in residential settings. An annual review of the school has been completed with a more detailed residential review being undertaken by the care co-ordinator, to be completed before December 2015. This will enable her to have time to settle in, gain an overview of the residential provision and report on the schools compliance with the residential special schools national minimum standards. The induction

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

programme for new staff has been revised and includes information on whistleblowing and support when raising concerns. The leadership team has created more open channels for staff to communicate, including access to an independent mediation service.

p.2

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Leaders and managers have demonstrated that they have taken effective action to address the shortcomings found at the last inspection. There is evidence of the impact of the changes, however this inspection was not able to comment on its sustainability or long term impact.

p.2

The school has made good progress and now meets all the national minimum

standards for residential special schools. Inspection Report <setting name>,<inspection date> Page 3 of 6

p.2

Information about this school

Philpots Manor School is an independent residential special school and further training centre that offers weekly boarding during term-time. The school ethos is to provide a holistic approach to education based upon the social and educational principles of Rudolf Steiner. It specialises in provision for children and young people of either sex between the ages of 7 and 19 years of age who have been unable to learn and develop within mainstream education. All pupils demonstrate some degree of emotional, behavioural, communication or learning difficulty. Pupils who board at the school live in small residential care groups in six separate houses within the grounds. Inspection Report <setting name>,<inspection date> Page 4 of 6

p.3

School details

Unique reference number 126141 Social care unique reference number SC372592 DfE registration number 938/6219

p.4

School details

This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for residential schools. The inspection was conducted 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 following the previous inspection.

p.4

School details

Type of school Independent Special School Number of boarders on roll 10 Gender of boarders Mixed Age range of boarders 7 to 19 Headteacher Linda Churnside Date of previous boarding inspection 24-26 March 2015 Telephone number 01342 810268 Email address Linda.churnside@philpotsmanorscholl.co.uk Inspection Report <setting name>,<inspection date> Page 5 of 6 guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', 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 .

p.4

School details

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.

p.5

School details

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.ofsted.gov.uk

p.5

School details

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,

p.5

School details

please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

p.5

School details

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

p.5