Homeschool

49 Manifold Way, Wednesbury, West Midlands WS10 0GB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided  Not applicable for this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils  Not applicable for this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  These standards were not met at the time of the previous inspection as the headteacher (also the proprietor) had not ensured that safeguarding was effective. This was because the school’s safeguarding policy and practice did not reflect the latest statutory requirements.  The school now has an up-to-date safeguarding policy which has been published on the school’s website. However, the headteacher has not fully read, used and distributed the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  The school’s small garden area is sometimes used by pupils, but is not well maintained. The inspector found a piece of broken glass and stinging nettles were growing in several areas.  As a result of the weaknesses above, safeguarding is not effective and these standards remain not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 11  This standard was met at the time of the previous inspection.  The school has a health and safety policy. However, the proprietor does not implement this policy effectively. For example, the school’s facilities are not well maintained, the school does not comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the school’s risk assessments are inadequate.  As a result of a number of health and safety weaknesses this standard is not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 12  This standard was not met at the time of the previous inspection as the headteacher had not ensured compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as the annual gas appliance check was overdue.  The headteacher has since ensured that an engineer has checked the gas boiler. However, the headteacher has not ensured that the fire extinguishers have been serviced since they were purchased some time ago. In addition, the school’s fire safety checks do not make it clear if these are visual checks of the premises and equipment or fire drills, and who was involved.  This standard remains not met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)  This standard was not met at the time of the previous inspection as the headteacher had not ensured an effective risk assessment policy was in place.  The headteacher has since put a risk assessment policy in place. However, on checking the educational visits risk assessment as a sample, not all risks had been included. For example, pupils are regularly taken to the local park for physical education. The educational visits risk assessment did not include checks such as ensuring the park and equipment was completely safe before allowing pupils to use the facilities. In addition, the risk assessment policy refers to risk assessments of a wide range of adventurous activities such as rock climbing, canoeing and skiing. However, it does state who would lead these activities and the qualifications the leaders would need to hold.  As a result of this, these standards remain not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors  Not applicable for this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  This standard was not met at the time of the previous inspection as the headteacher had not ensured the gas appliances had been checked annually.  The headteacher has since ensured that the gas boiler has been checked by an engineer. However, the headteacher has not ensured that the fire extinguishers have been serviced since they were purchased some time ago.  This standard remains not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information  Not applicable for this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled  Not applicable for this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  These standards were not met at the time of the previous inspection as the headteacher had not ensured that leaders and managers had fulfilled all their responsibilities. In particular, safeguarding was ineffective and there were weaknesses in the welfare, health and safety provision for pupils.  The headteacher has updated the safeguarding, complaints and risk assessment policies, and made some progress towards meeting the welfare, health and safety standards since the last inspection. As a result, some steps have been made to meeting the independent school standards which were not met at the previous inspection. However, several independent school standards remain not met, including the effectiveness of the school’s safeguarding arrangements and some welfare, health and safety requirements.  The school’s website refers to a list of staff roles and ‘a team of competent

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Main inspection findings

educational specialists to meet the diverse need of our pupils’. When asked about this, the headteacher explained that only two staff work at the school and both have several roles. The proprietor agreed that the current wording on the website could be misleading to prospective parents.  As a result of a number of weaknesses in leadership, management and safeguarding, these standards remain not met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Although the school’s website makes Homeschool’s inclusive ethos clear, the proprietor has not made arrangements to meet the requirements of paragraph 3 of the Equality Act 2010.  In particular, the headteacher was not aware of the nine protected characteristics which form part of the Equality Act 2010.

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Main inspection findings

Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  Not applicable for this inspection. The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)).  The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy (paragraph 11).  The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (paragraph 12).  The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)).

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured (paragraph 25).  The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)). Arrangements have not been made to meet the requirements of paragraph 3 of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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School details

Unique reference number 141501 DfE registration number 6007 Inspection number 10021968 This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school. Type of school Day school School status Independent school Age range of pupils 5–11 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll Two Proprietor Colin Rankine Chair Colin Rankine Headteacher Colin Rankine Annual fees (day pupils) From £40 per day Telephone number 0121 649 1599 Website www.homeschoolsocialenterprise.org Email address homeschool@live.co.uk Date of previous standard inspection 20–21 April 2016

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Information about this school

 Homeschool is part of the Homeschool Social Enterprise, a registered charity. The school was registered with the Department for Education on 3 October 2014.  The proprietor is also the headteacher. The office manager who is also a teaching assistant supports him. There are no other staff. The school does not have a board of governors or proprietorial body.  The school is accommodated on the ground floor and first floor of a town house. It is registered to provide day education for up to five boys and girls aged between five and 11 years. It is also registered to provide early years education, childminding, before- and after-school care.  One of the current pupils has an education, health and care plan. There are currently no children who are looked after on the school roll.  The school does not use any alternative providers for its pupils.  The school has a Seventh Day Adventist religious character. It aims to, ‘educate and

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Information about this school

support children with a rich and varied education along with strong Christian values’.

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Information about this inspection

 This was a no-notice emergency inspection, commissioned by the Department for Education.  The proprietor has submitted a post-inspection action plan to the Department for Education. This action plan did not form part of this inspection.  The inspector had discussions with the proprietor and the school’s office manager.  The inspector considered views of two parents on the telephone. There were no responses to Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View.  In order to check the school’s compliance with the independent school standards which were not met at the previous inspection, the inspector examined policies, records and other documents. These included verifying the checks recorded on the school’s single register of the suitability of adults to work with children.

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Inspection team

Stuart Bellworthy, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector 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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Inspection team

Parent View 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. 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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Inspection team

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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, 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 1231, 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 www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-

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Inspection team

government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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

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