Columbus House

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Columbus House Old Hall, Moor End, Halifax HX2 0TX

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(d), 3(g) and 4  The previous inspection identified that an effective system was not in place to identify and track pupils’ attainment. Inspectors also judged that teachers did not take into account information about pupils’ achievement when teaching. Consequently, pupils did not make good progress. These issues were identified as areas for improvement during the inspection.  The school indicated in its action plan that it would initiate a number of strategies to ensure these standards would be met by 16 June 2017.  Leaders and managers planned to introduce a commercial assessment programme to help track pupils’ progress. Staff were to be trained on using it effectively. The programme is intended to ‘capture learning as it happens’. Individualised education plans were planned to ensure standards are met.  School leaders are now fully trained in and use a commercial assessment programme to

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Main inspection findings

follow pupils’ progress effectively. The headteacher uses information on pupils’ outcomes to identify what pupils have achieved and what they must work on next, using the new assessment programme.  The headteacher uses the assessment programme to set individual targets on pupils’ independent education plans. These plans are reviewed every Friday at the ‘young person’s meeting’; this informs pupils how well they are working towards their educational targets.  Parents and carers receive an annual report which includes detailed information on pupils’ attainment and progress based on standardised criteria in the new programme.  The headteacher uses information on current attainment along with starting point information to inform the planning of learning. This information, along with ensuring that pupils are interested and engaged in their learning, has allowed pupils, particularly the most able pupils, to make better progress than seen at the previous inspection.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders and managers have now taken appropriate steps to ensure that areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection have been addressed effectively and these standards are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  At the time of the last inspection safeguarding was judged to be effective. The school does not have a website. However, the compliant safeguarding policy is made available for parents and carers should they request it.  The previous inspection identified that there are good links with professionals, parents and carers that support and safeguard pupils.  A third party, prior to this present inspection, raised concerns about the health and safety of pupils due to refuse on school grounds and unfinished building works.  Leaders and managers have ensured that safeguarding continues to be effective. They have ensured that appropriate recruitment checks have been made on new staff and

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Main inspection findings

these are recorded on the single central record.  The school’s safeguarding policy continues to be compliant with government guidelines and although the school does not have a website, the policy is made available for parents and carers.  Leaders and managers have ensured that the school premises and grounds are safe and well maintained. Therefore requirements relevant to the issues raised in the complaint continue to be met.  Senior leaders have a detailed system in place to monitor all incidents of behaviour and the attendance of pupils, as well as their attendance in lessons. This information is reported to directors on a weekly basis and monitored carefully to identify patterns or trends. Therefore this area for improvement identified at the previous inspection has been addressed effectively.  The proprietors, leaders and managers have ensured that these standards are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b)  At the previous inspection the proprietor had not ensured that a clear framework was in place to gather information about pupils’ prior abilities, starting points and current progress so that teachers could use this information to plan learning. Therefore, not all the independent school standards were met.  The action plan which was accepted by the Department for Education (DfE) noted that leaders and managers would monitor the quality of teaching more thoroughly. It was noted that weekly reports would be provided to leaders and managers using the new assessment programme. The proprietor considered that these strategies along with more robust monitoring by leaders and managers would ensure that all of the independent school standards would be met.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that regular scrutiny takes place to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning. This information, along with information on pupils’ progress, is used to hold adults to account and offer appropriate support at regular supervision meetings.  The proprietor has now ensured that areas for improvement identified at the last inspection have been addressed and all the independent school standards have now been met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Part 1. Quality of education provided. Paragraph 3, 3(a), 3(d), 3(g) and 4. The proprietor has ensured that teaching at the school allows pupils to make good progress according to their ability. The school has ensured that teachers shows a good understanding of the needs and prior attainment of pupils when planning. The proprietor has ensured that a framework for measuring pupil performance is in place and used to assess pupils’ work regularly.  Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools. Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b). The proprietor has ensured that those with responsibility for leadership and management fulfil their responsibilities, demonstrating good skills and knowledge, so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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School Details

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.

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School Details

School status Independent residential special school

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School Details

Email address tariq.verpalen@care4children.co.uk

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School Details

Date of previous standard inspection 29 November–1 December 2016

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Information about this school

 Columbus House is an independent special school. It was last inspected in November 2016 when it was judged to require improvement.  The school specialises in providing education and care for vulnerable pupils. No pupils currently on role have an education, health and care plan.  The school operates on one site and does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since being judged to require improvement in November 2016.  The school produced an action plan to demonstrate how it would meet the unmet standards identified at the last inspection. The DfE confirmed in April 2017 that the action plan was acceptable.  As part of the inspection, the DfE requested the inspector to consider issues around pupils’ safety and welfare that were raised following a complaint received. These issues were also considered at the inspection in November 2016.  The inspector spoke to pupils and observed them learning in a range of subjects. Work

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Information about this inspection

in books was also studied.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher, the director of education and the area director.  The inspector examined school documentation relating to safeguarding and pupils’ progress.

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Inspection team

Jo Sharpe, 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.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visitwww.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.

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Inspection team

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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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