Cambian Chesham House School

Progress monitoring school report Cambian Chesham House School Thrush Drive, Bury BL9 6JD

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Context of the inspection

 This inspection was undertaken at the request of the Department for Education (DfE) in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan.  At the school’s last full inspection in June 2014, its overall effectiveness was judged to be good.  The school received an unannounced emergency inspection in July 2015 at the request of the registration authority for independent schools to advise on the school’s compliance with Part 1 (the quality of education provided), Part 3 (the welfare, health and safety of pupils) and Part 8 (the quality of the leadership and management of the school). A number of standards relating to Part 3 and Part 8 were not met. The inspector also found that a standard relating to Part 5 (premises of and accommodation at schools) was not met.  The school submitted its action plan in July 2015. It was evaluated in September 2015 and was found to require improvement. A further action plan was evaluated in March 2016 and this was

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Context of the inspection

also found to require improvement.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection.  The school was given no notice of the inspection.  Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) met with the headteacher and a representative of the Cambian Group which is the proprietor of the school.  The HMI toured the premises with the headteacher and scrutinised documents relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils.  The focus of the inspection was the welfare, health and safety of pupils in the school, the premises of and the accommodation at the school, and the quality of leadership and management of the school.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 The emergency inspection in July 2015 found that aspects of the standards for the welfare, health and safety of pupils were unmet. Specifically, a number of deficiencies were identified in arrangements to ensure that pupils are fully protected from the risk of fire.  In the school’s action plan, the headteacher undertakes to review and revise policies and procedures with staff relating to fire safety, and to make sure that arrangements are compliant with the standard. Previously, internal fire doors were wedged open and one fire door was damaged and had a hole in it. This fire door has been replaced and all internal fire doors remain closed when not in use. All external fire doors are clearly labelled and access routes to external fire doors are clear. Locking mechanisms have also been reviewed and improved. Previously, the main external door had four locks which would all have to be opened quickly in the event of an

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

emergency. All external fire doors now have a single twist-lock mechanism, which does not need a key, in order to leave the building quickly.  Since the previous inspection, all fire extinguishers have been serviced and a fire extinguisher which was empty has now been replaced. Fire extinguishers are now readily available and are easily accessible in the required areas of the school. Monitoring report: Cambian Chesham House School, 28 April 2016 2 of 6

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 The action plan outlines that suitable fire training will be provided for staff. The headteacher provided an email which confirmed that this training has been arranged for 3 May 2016.  In the action plan, the headteacher undertakes to complete and record weekly fire checks. Evidence in the school’s fire file shows that weekly checks are undertaken and recorded. Monthly fire drills are also completed and recorded in the school’s file.  At the July 2015 inspection, a handover book was in place to share communication between the children’s home and the school which shared the same building. The purpose was to make sure that any ongoing behaviour or support issues among pupils were known by all staff, to aid the smooth transition from the children’s home to the school and vice versa. This book was not being used systematically to record ongoing issues. The system has been reviewed. The children’s home, which previously shared the building with the school, has now closed. Staff are

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

in daily contact with all care homes from which pupils travel daily. This means that any issues relating to the pupils are shared with the school staff, which helps to secure a smooth transition from the care homes to the school and vice versa. The new handover book is completed systematically.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 The July 2015 inspection found that the proprietor had not made sure that the short-term care of sick and injured pupils was appropriate. Specifically, a bed in the sick room, which was to be used by pupils who may become unwell, had previously been slept in by a member of staff. The same bedclothes remained, which was not hygienic.  Since February 2016, the school no longer shares the building with a children’s home. This means that there is no longer any requirement for staff to sleep at the setting and they do not need to use the bed in the sick room. The bed is used only for pupils who may become ill and need to lie down. The bed has clean covers and is fit for purpose.  At the July 2015 inspection, concern was raised about the location of the sick room. The room was located on the first floor of the building. Classrooms are located on the ground floor and second floor of the building, which meant that any pupil who became ill would have to navigate

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

the stairs on their way to the sick room, when they might be unsteady. The sick room is now located on the ground floor, near to the main teaching area. The classroom on the second floor is used infrequently and if a pupil became ill in that classroom, there is a toilet and bathroom on that floor. Pupils are always accompanied by staff and if a pupil became ill on the second floor, they would be supported in getting to the sick room on the ground floor.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 At the July 2015 inspection, the school was not meeting aspects of standards in Parts 3 and 5, which meant that the standards in Part 8 were also not met.  The school action plan states that regular visits and audits will take place. These will be conducted by those responsible for governance, other headteachers in the Cambian Group and a school improvement partner who will monitor plans to ensure that all standards are met. Records show that visits are regular and usually take place every month. Minutes from meetings show that those responsible for governance complete checks alongside the headteacher to ensure that the standards are met consistently.  The action plan states that leaders will arrange appropriate fire training for staff. Although training has not yet taken place, a booking confirmation email confirms that appropriate fire training will take place on 3 May 2016.  The action plan states that fire checks will be completed and recorded weekly. School records

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

show that checks take place and findings are recorded. Monitoring report: Cambian Chesham House School, 28 April 2016 3 of 6

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

 The school meets The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 and associated requirements that the Department for Education commissioned Ofsted to inspect at this inspection. This included all standards and requirements that the school was judged not to comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection. Monitoring report: Cambian Chesham House School, 28 April 2016 4 of 6

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Inspection team

Ian Hardman, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Information about this school

 This is a small independent special school which meets the needs of up to eight male and female pupils who have moderate learning and/or behavioural, social and emotional difficulties. The school is registered for the age range 10–18 years.  The school was registered in September 2013 and is part of the Cambian Group of schools.  Since February 2016, the school has been registered as an education-only establishment, having previously shared the building with a children’s home. Pupils travel to the school from children’s homes in the Cambian Group.  The majority of pupils who attend have a statement of special educational needs for their behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.  The school was last inspected in July 2015. Monitoring report: Cambian Chesham House School, 28 April 2016 5 of 6

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School details

Unique reference number 140205 Inspection number 10018887 DfE registration number 351/6002 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. Type of school Independent special school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 10–18 Gender of pupils Mixed Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 2

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form

Number of part-time pupils 0 Proprietor Cambian Group PLC Chair Ann-Marie Carrie Headteacher Vicky Heaton Date of previous school inspection 1 July 2015 Annual fees (day pupils) £38,000 Telephone number 0161 763 7072 Fax number Not applicable Email address vicky.heaton@cambiangroup.com 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 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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