Cuckmere House School

Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 1 of 12 Cuckmere House School Cuckmere House School, Eastbourne Road, Seaford, East Sussex BN25 4BA

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Inspection dates 24/01/2017 to 26/01/2017

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The overall experiences and progress of children and young people Outstanding 1

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The quality of care and support Outstanding 1 How well children and young people are protected Outstanding 1 The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers Outstanding 1

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 Residential pupils thoroughly enjoy their boarding experience and benefit from trusting, warm relationships with the staff who care for them.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 The residential facility supports residential pupils to make the most of extended learning opportunities. This results in improvements in key areas such as behaviour, school attendance and social skills. For many, this progress has exceeded expectations.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 Close multi-disciplinary working ensures that each residential pupil’s needs are known and planned for. Individual needs are met to a high standard. This contributes to the excellent progress that residential pupils make.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 The management of the school is strong and stable. This provides clear leadership, an embedded culture and expectations of high standards. Leaders and managers make excellent use of a range of thorough monitoring activities to improve the experiences and progress of the pupils.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 The safety and well-being of residential pupils is prioritised. This ensures that they feel cared for, valued and respected. Difference is recognised and respected.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 Rigorous safeguarding systems ensure that all issues are addressed promptly and effectively. Key staff with responsibility for safeguarding work well together, and with other professionals, with great effectiveness.

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The residential provision is outstanding because

 Parents speak highly about the care residential pupils receive and the communication Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 2 of 12 they receive from school staff.

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schools

The school meets the national minimum standards for residential special schools.

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What does the school need to do to improve further?

 Review the current written parental consent form for the administration of first aid so that it clearly covers residential time as well as the school day.  Consider replacing the strip lighting in the residential building.  Continue to review the lunchtime meal provision. Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 3 of 12

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Information about this inspection

The school was given three hours’ notice of the inspection. The inspection took place over a period of three days and was conducted by a social care regulatory inspector. The inspection included: one evening spent in the residential house; observation and discussion with staff and residential pupils; sharing of mealtimes; and discussion with the executive head, head of school, head of care and director of human resources. In addition, the inspector spoke with the clinical psychologist, the trustee with responsibility for safeguarding and the chair of the trustees. Two parents talked to the inspector and gave their views and opinions on the care that the school provides. Contact was made with the local statutory safeguarding authority. A wide range of documents concerning the residential provision were scrutinised.

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Inspection team

Liz Driver lead social care inspector Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 4 of 12

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Information about this school

This residential special school is for boys aged between 5 and 16 years who have an Educational Statement or Educational Health Care Plan for Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH). The school is part of The SABDEN Multi Academy Trust. The trust includes one other residential SEMH special school; a mixed day SEMH special school; and a number of Alternative Provisions. At the time of this inspection the trust had just entered its second year as a Multi Academy Trust. The school’s residential provision is located in a separate building in a residential area of the town, approximately half a mile from the main school site. Up to 12 boys can stay overnight and they generally stay for between one and three nights during the school week. Extended day provision is also available for primary and secondary pupils. This enables them to stay on into the evening for activities and a meal before returning home.

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Information about this school

Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 5 of 12

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Inspection judgements

The overall experiences and progress of children and young people Outstanding

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils benefit from the unique approach taken by the provision with regard to the use of the residential facilities. Different groups of pupils stay on set nights each week, which gives them the opportunity to benefit from extending their curriculum beyond the school day. Residential pupils experience a wide range of activities and have the chance to develop friendships with their peers in a safe way. Positive changes are made in areas such as school attendance and academic attainment, and pupils improve their confidence, behaviour and social skills. Many pupils make remarkable progress especially when their starting points are taken into account.

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils enjoy the time they spend in the residential provision with those who are currently too young to stay overnight saying they can’t wait to be old enough to stay. Residential pupils say that the residential provision is fantastic and that the staff are really caring and fun. Without exception, feedback received by the inspector was highly positive. Residential pupils enjoy the opportunities offered to them and fully engage in activities that provide new and different experiences which they may not otherwise encounter. Residential pupils see the provision as being a safe, structured and supportive environment.

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils’ safety is given a high priority, and all members of staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to keep pupils safe. The welfare of pupils is at the centre of all practice. Challenging behaviours are very well managed by a confident team of staff, who avoid physical intervention whenever possible. The staff are experienced and use de-escalation techniques effectively in order to manage challenging or risky behaviours. As a result, only one physical intervention has been necessary in the last year.

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils have many opportunities to make their views and wishes known. They are confident that their opinions are taken seriously and that they are valued and respected. Residential pupils are fully involved in decision-making at an individual level and a school level. They are encouraged to support the school community and its environment. Strong and trusting relationships are developed between the staff and residential pupils. These relationships enable the pupils to raise concerns and worries by talking to an appropriate adult with the confidence that they will be listened to and that suitable action will be taken if required.

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Inspection judgements

The residential accommodation is located a few minutes’ walk from the main school. It is large and is maintained to a good, comfortable standard. Some of the communal areas have strip lighting that could be replaced to provide a more homely environment. Residential pupils are able to personalise their bedrooms and know they will be allocated the same bedroom each time they stay overnight. Impressive displays around the house provide a wealth of information for pupils on areas that include anti-bullying, keeping healthy and the promotion of British values, such as respect and tolerance.

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Inspection judgements

Parents acknowledge the residential provision’s impact on residential pupils’ growth in confidence and development. Comments from parents included: `The school outweighed my expectations’; `This is an outstanding school’; and, ‘The staff are amazing.’ Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 6 of 12 The quality of care and support Outstanding

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils receive high-quality, sensitive and well-planned support across all areas of their lives. This is delivered by a very stable team of committed and professional residential staff. The head of care leads by example and regularly works in the residential building to ensure that the quality of care remains at a high standard. Observation of staff practice during this inspection showed that the staff are focused and caring. They demonstrated expert knowledge and practice of managing behaviours. The staff work closely with each other and they are confident in each other’s abilities and support. A trustee of the school stated, ‘I am always impressed with the staff practice.’

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Inspection judgements

Careful assessment is made of the pupils’ needs. Plans are put in place to ensure that they have a positive experience at the school. The thoughtful and considerate induction phase help pupils to prepare to stay at the provision and they receive excellent support throughout the move. This induction also provides pupils with clear information on what is expected of them, for example with regard to acceptable behaviour, and what pupils can expect from the staff team.

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Inspection judgements

Each residential pupil has a care plan that provides all the information that the staff need in order to deliver safe care and that helps the residential pupil to grow and develop. The plans are complemented by emotional, behavioural, social, and learning profiles, which identify the pupils’ immediate special learning needs, baseline assessments and individual risk assessments. Regular monitoring ensures that targets are understood by staff and are updated as pupils progress.

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Inspection judgements

Multi-disciplinary planning – which includes input from medical professionals, psychologists, and speech and language therapists – ensures that the pupils’ physical, emotional and mental well-being are thoroughly assessed and met. The residential staff provide support in the residential and school settings. This ensures that there is consistency for the residential pupils and that the staff team gets to know the pupils very well. The residential leaders and the staff team communicate with the academic staff to ensure that those pupils who require extra help during times of challenge receive the additional support they need. Individual plans are flexible to meet the changing needs of pupils across day and residential times.

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Inspection judgements

Residential pupils thoroughly enjoy the excellent range of activities on offer. They have a voice in choosing activities and in the advance planning for the next term’s programme. The staff team is resourceful and committed in seeking new activities. Pupils give feedback on the activities, which enables the staff team to ensure that the activities provided are suitable and that pupils enjoy them. Examples of activities include swimming, outdoor adventure activities and a golf driving range.

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Inspection judgements

The health and well-being of the residential pupils is promoted to an excellent standard. This is an area that has improved over the last year through an increased focus on the mental health and well-being of pupils. All residential pupils have their health needs Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 7 of 12 assessed and specific plans are put in place when needed. External health professionals provide expert advice and healthy lifestyle guidance in addition to the vast array of information that is provided in-house. Arrangements for managing medication are robust and rigorously applied. There are well-organised and safe procedures in place for parents and carers to provide all the information required by staff for pupils’ overnight stays. Staff are trained to deliver first aid. However current parental consent forms are not specific enough to differentiate between the school day and residential time. In

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Inspection judgements

practice, the number of medicines that need to be given and the number of incidents that require first aid are extremely low.

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Inspection judgements

Feedback about the quality of food in the residential provision is excellent. Residential pupils have the opportunity to help prepare meals, which adds to the promotion of healthy living. Any information about specific dietary needs is shared between the staff and the catering department. This ensures that residential pupils are provided with diets that are suitable to their needs. Residential mealtimes are relaxed and enjoyable social occasions. Lunchtime meals in the school are less appealing than those provided in the residential facility. Although pupils didn’t raise this during the inspection, managers are aware of this and are working to improve the lunchtime arrangements.

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Inspection judgements

Feedback from parents regarding the quality of communication with the school is highly positive. One parent said, ‘I am kept very well informed’; another reported that, ‘The staff have got to know us, as well as our child; we have a great relationship with the residential staff.’

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Inspection judgements

How well children and young people are protected Outstanding

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Inspection judgements

Arrangements to keep the residential pupils safe are effective. Pupils’ safety is seen as a priority and the school is proactive in sustaining excellent practice. All policies and procedures that relate to safeguarding are of a high standard and are rigorously implemented. The welfare and safety of the pupils is central to practice throughout the school. The drive and commitment of staff to want the best for each pupil results in pupils who feel very safe and who recognise that the staff really do care about them.

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Inspection judgements

All staff receive regular training on safeguarding. They are knowledgeable and clear about what action to take if they have a worry or a concern about a pupil or about the practice of a member of staff. An experienced and strong team of managers and leaders take responsibility for overseeing all safeguarding matters. They are highly organised, skilled and effective. A trustee who has a great depth of knowledge and experience in safeguarding matters provides oversight and challenge where necessary. Overall, all safeguarding matters are scrutinised to an excellent level. This ensures that all issues are dealt with effectively and that agencies are notified promptly, which in turn means that each pupil’s welfare is protected. Members of the safeguarding team have excellent links with the local safeguarding agencies and continue to develop these by participating in local area safeguarding groups for special schools. When necessary, leaders,

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Inspection judgements

managers and trustees will challenge the safeguarding practice of others and they advocate strongly for the residential pupils.

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Inspection judgements

Feedback from residential pupils indicates that they feel safe and looked after at the school. They are aware of the different ways in which they can raise concerns and are Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 8 of 12 confident that the staff will take them seriously. A wide range of contact details are on display in the residential house, including the children’s commissioner’s new service, Help at Hand.

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Inspection judgements

Behaviour in the residential provision is excellent. The inspector observed residential pupils being considerate and polite to each other, members of staff and visitors. Residential pupils say bullying is not a concern. The staff are very aware of the dynamics of pupils and address any conflicts quickly. Feedback from pupils included, ‘Staff always sort out any bullying quickly’, and ‘It’s chilled here; I haven’t seen or experienced any bullying’. The number of bullying incidents is extremely low as a result of the staff’s expert practice with regard to identifying and managing situations. Suitable and regular refresher training in the school’s chosen method of behaviour management underpins the staff team’s practice.

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Inspection judgements

The school has a thorough recruitment process in place. Staff are only employed when all background checks have been completed successfully. This ensures that only adults who are deemed safe to work with pupils are employed. The residential staff team is a very stable team and there have not been any new residential staff employed since the last inspection.

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Inspection judgements

All health and safety checks are undertaken and audited. This includes checks on the physical environment to ensure that it is safe and secure and that it protects pupils from the risk of harm. The head of care liaises closely with the local fire service to ensure that the fire regulations are being met. All aspects of the school’s health and safety practices and safeguarding procedures are scrutinised by senior leaders and a group of trustees.

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Inspection judgements

The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers Outstanding

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Inspection judgements

The leadership and management at this residential school are excellent. There is a highly effective and ambitious senior leadership team. The members of this team know the school’s strengths and weaknesses and they work to ensure that the pupils receive the best care and education possible. The executive headteacher is supported by a head of school who works closely with the head of care. This is the school’s second year of being part of a multi-academy trust which has seen many positive changes, including improved networking with other schools and sharing of expert knowledge and skills. A trustee stated that the executive headteacher is, ‘Excellent at nurturing and developing staff and recognising potential.’

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Inspection judgements

The residential provision is effectively and efficiently managed. The head of care ensures that it continues to be an integral part of the school. There are clear aims and objectives for the residential provision. These are supported by a development plan, which is updated annually by the head of care. This development plan is overseen by senior leaders and the trustees.

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Inspection judgements

High expectations of the standard of care are embedded into the culture and practice of the school. Members of staff are skilled, experienced and ambitious for the pupils to make excellent progress academically and socially. The head of care is visionary and is clearly committed to ensuring that the school remains an outstanding provision and that Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 9 of 12 it adapts to changes in legislation and the changing needs of the pupils. She is enthusiastic and fully supportive of the residential staff team. Her leadership is trusted by the senior leadership team, the trustees and the residential staff, and she is able to gain their commitment to develop the service even further.

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Inspection judgements

Robust monitoring and auditing procedures provide scrutiny of the provision’s practice and identify areas for further improvement. The recording and analysis of data enables the school to identify areas that can be further improved, while clearly evidencing the highly positive impact the school and residential provision provides to all pupils. Independent visitors assess the effectiveness of the residential provision and the effectiveness of safeguarding practice. Challenge is seen as a positive form of learning and developing. Any changes that are required are acted on quickly, including those identified by the residential pupils.

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Inspection judgements

The residential staff team is very stable. Some staff have worked at the school for over 20 years. The staff are competent in managing change and use their individual areas of expertise to create a team that has a wide range of interests and skills. The staff receive training which gives them the skills to provide a high standard of care. There are always sufficient staff on shift to meet the needs of each residential pupil. The staff receive regular supervision and appraisals, which allow them to reflect upon practice and highlight areas of their own personal development. In addition to formal supervision sessions, there are day-to-day informal discussions between the residential care staff, the head of care and the school staff. There is no division between the school and residential staff; they work as one strong and effective team.

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Inspection judgements

Relationships between the school and key stakeholders are excellent. In particular, parents are extremely happy and confident about the provision and the care their children receive. Parents are complimentary about the communication they receive and the ease with which they can contact a staff member at any time. Professionals, parents, staff members and pupils all gave positive feedback about the provision during the inspection. Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 10 of 12

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What inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspections of boarding and residential provision in schools: the inspection framework’.

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What inspection judgements mean

Judgement Description Outstanding A school where the experiences and progress of children and young people consistently exceeds the standard of good and results in sustained progress and achievement. The outcomes achieved by children and young people are outstanding and the impact the boarding/residential provision has had in supporting this progress and achieving these outcomes is clearly evidenced. Good A school providing effective services which exceed minimum requirements. Children and young people are protected and cared for and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. Requires improvement A school where there are no serious or widespread failures that result in children’s and young people's welfare not being safeguarded or promoted. However, the overall outcomes, experiences and progress of children and young people are not yet good. Inadequate A school where there are serious and/or widespread failures that mean

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What inspection judgements mean

children and young people are not protected, or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded, or their care and experiences are poor and they are not making progress. Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 11 of 12

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School details

Unique reference number SC050165 Social care unique reference number SC050165 DfE registration number 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 special schools. Type of school Residential Special School Number of boarders on roll 70 Gender of boarders Boys Age range of boarders 6 to16 Headteacher Frank Stanford Date of previous boarding inspection 19/03/2015 Telephone number 01323 893319 Email address office.ch@sabden.org.uk Inspection Report Cuckmere House School, 24/01/2017 Page 12 of 12 guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/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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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.

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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.gov.uk/ofsted

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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 children looked after, 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, please

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School details

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’.

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School details

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

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