The Oaks

Merecroft School Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 330/6122 Unique Reference Number (URN) 135428 Inspection number 353945 Inspection dates 17 March 2010 Reporting inspector Declan McCarthy

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Published: 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, 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.

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Purpose and scope of the visit

This inspection visit was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 1 , as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005

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Purpose and scope of the visit

The visit 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.

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Information about the school

Merecroft is a small independent school for boys and girls aged 8 to 16 years. The school provides education for children who are ‘looked after’ by their local authority. It provides education predominantly for pupils who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about the school

The school describes its purpose as to, ‘offer high quality education to each pupil according to individual need, within a caring and nurturing environment’.

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Information about the school

It is owned by Barford Park House Ltd and is located within easy reach of two large towns in Worcestershire. The school is registered for six pupils. The school was opened in April 2007 and was last inspected by Ofsted in November 2008.

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Context of the visit

At its last inspection there were elements of non-compliance in standard 3, the welfare, health and safety of pupils, in standard 4 the suitability of the proprietor and staff and in standard 6, the provision of information. In relation to Standard 3, the school had not appointed a senior member of staff suitably trained in child protection, it did not provide suitable risk assessment for activities outside the school, for the school premises nor for all pupils’ activities which have a potential risk to pupils’ health and safety, and it had not prepared and implement a written policy on first aid. With reference to Standard 4, the school did not ensure that all the required checks on employees and volunteers were recorded on a single central register. With regards to Standard 6, the school did not provide an annual account of income and expenditure incurred by the school in respect of pupils funded by the

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Context of the visit

local authority. The action plan for the school, following its last inspection, was accepted by the DCSF on 11 November 2009. This is the first inspection visit to the school to follow up the progress made on the implementation of its action plan. A social care inspection was carried out at the same time as the last inspection of education. The last unannounced welfare inspection took place the day before this visit on 16 March 2010.

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Context of the visit

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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action plan

The school now has two nominated persons for child protection who are the headteacher and the Merecroft House manager. Both have been suitably trained in child protection and safer recruitment in compliance with DCSF guidance. The school’s written policy now provides clear guidance to ensure the health and safety of pupils on activities outside school with suitable risk assessments for all such activities. Scrutiny of recent visits outside school to the local park and local amenities such as Borsdesley Abbey, shows that full risk assessments were carried out by the group leader with approval by the headteacher and house manager before the visit took place. A risk assessment file has also been produced. Scrutiny of this file shows that all pupils, all subjects, and all parts of the school accommodation, including the grounds have been risk assessed by the manager and are monitored by the headteacher. A deputy first aider has now been appointed and trained. The first aid

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action plan

policy has been rewritten and now includes appropriate sections providing details of what constitutes a medical emergency and on how to deal with spillages of various types of bodily fluids. Good progress has been made in implementing this part of the agreed action plan.

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action plan

A single central register of all checks on staff suitability is now in place for the school with an annex attached for the proprietorial body as they are responsible for the four homes and school owned by Barford Park House Ltd. The register shows that all appropriate checks are made on staff, including visiting therapists and volunteers. These are recorded, dated and initialled in compliance with DCSF requirements. The proprietor has carried out appropriate checks on all other named persons on the proprietorial body with all names entered and recorded appropriately. The single central register and its annex are held in electronic form and were printed in clear legible format for scrutiny during this inspection visit. Good progress has been made in implementing this part of the agreed action plan.

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action plan

The school has produced annual accounts showing a breakdown of income received and expenditure incurred in respect of each pupil registered at the school. It will be sent to local authorities annually and within the usual time scales for the school. As it was not sent by the time of this inspection visit, satisfactory progress has been made in implementing this part of the agreed action plan.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements. Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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School details

Name of school Merecroft School DCSF number 330/6122 Unique reference number (URN) 135428 Type of school Special school for pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties Status Independent Date school opened April 2007 Age range of pupils 8-16 Gender of pupils Mixed Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 1 Girls: 2 Total: 3 Number on roll (part-time pupils) Boys: 0 Girls: 0 Total: 0 Number of pupils with a statement of special educational need Boys: 1 Girls: 1 Total: 2

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School details

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 1 Girls: 2 Total: 3 Annual fees (day pupils) £ 30,000 Address of school Seafield Lane Alvechurch Worcester B48 7HN Telephone number 01564 829731 Fax number 01564 826432 Email address JCollighan@barfordcare.com Headteacher Mrs Jennifer Coolighan Proprietor Barford Park House Ltd Reporting inspector Declan McCarthy Dates of inspection 17 March 2010

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