High Close School

Inspection report for residential special school – monitoring visit SC011327 High Close School Monitoring visit Barnardos, High Close, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1TT Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken following a judgement of requires improvement to be good, which was given at the full welfare inspection carried out from 4 to 6 July 2017. The progress made in meeting the national minimum standards for residential special schools was assessed.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The previous residential inspection was aligned with an education inspection. The residential provision was judged to be requires improvement to be good in all reporting areas. There was a total of three unmet national minimum standards (NMS). This monitoring visit found that these NMS are now met.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Since the previous inspection, a huge amount of work and review of processes has been carried out by the senior leadership team. This has resulted in a clearer understanding of the areas of both strength and weakness. The school has moved forward quickly in a short amount of time.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS 11.1 - Met. There have been significant improvements in the recording of safeguarding concerns and in the oversight of practice since the last inspection. The introduction of a new online system ensures that there is now a clear audit trail of the action taken whenever there is a safeguarding concern. The designated safeguarding leads, along with the governors, quickly gain an understanding of any concerns. The monitoring tools have been adapted to ensure that governors and the senior leadership team understand the individual vulnerabilities of young people, and that they use this to challenge and question decision-making. There are now clearer lines of responsibility, which enables quicker responses to be made. They will look at each child as an individual to also highlight any ongoing and repeated concerns and take appropriate action.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Appropriate referrals and discussions have taken place with the local authority on safeguarding concerns prior to any decisions being made by the school, with a view to improving the recording when there have been allegations. It is evident that the Inspection report for residential special school – monitoring visit SC011327 Page 2 of 4 designated safeguarding lead has taken advice from the local authority and that they have a close working relationship. Young people’s risk assessments are in the process of being reviewed to ensure that all risks are clearly and appropriately identified. Improvements have been made, and both internal and external monitoring have identified that these need to continue to develop.

p.1

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Key-working sessions are now more frequent and individualised. At this time, staff consider and talk about safeguarding issues and young people’s related vulnerabilities. In addition, they have used other professionals to explore young people’s understanding of how to keep themselves safe and any further strategies that may be required.

p.2

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

There is half-termly safeguarding training with the whole staff team, which ensures that any issues relating to safeguarding concerns are explored. In addition, the designated safeguarding leads use research to inform staff practice in key areas, and there is an expectation that staff both reflect on and learn from this training. This has enabled staff to have a better understanding of vulnerabilities such as exploitation and radicalisation. They also make resources available to support staff to undertake group work with the young people.

p.2

Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

NMS – 13.8 and 13.9 – Met. There are various monitoring tools now in place. All the responsible people, as a result, now have oversight of all the necessary records. Records are now monitored and action is taken when weaknesses are found. This includes action to improve outcomes for young people. In addition to the senior leadership team’s and the governors’ oversight, the unit managers now have more responsibility for monitoring their own houses. They are identifying areas for themselves that require improvements. The culture of monitoring has changed, with a clearer understanding of the reasons why it is required and more defined tools, enabling it to take place purposefully.

p.2

National minimum standards

The school has made good progress and now meets all the national minimum standards for residential special schools. Inspection report for residential special school – monitoring visit SC011327 Page 3 of 4

p.2

Inspection team

Emeline Evans Lead social care inspector Ruth Coler Social care inspector

p.3

Information about this school

High Close School is a non-maintained school operated by Barnardos. It provides for both day and residential pupils, irrespective of gender, aged from seven to 18 years, with most boarders being of senior school age. There are 55 pupils on roll, with provision for 36 boarding. At the time of the inspection, there were 27 residential pupils. There are four residential units on the school site. The school takes young people who have been unable to succeed in mainstream school and who have an education, health care plan arising from social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and speech, language and communication needs.

p.3

School details

Unique reference number 110181 Social care unique reference number SC011327 DfE registration number 7006

p.3

School details

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 boarding schools.

p.3

School details

The inspection 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.

p.3

School details

Type of school residential special school Number of boarders on roll 26 Gender of boarders mixed Age range of boarders 7 to 18 Headteacher Zoe Lattimer Date of previous boarding inspection 04/07/2017 Telephone number 01189 785767 Email address zoe.lattimer@barnardos.org.uk Inspection report for residential special school – monitoring visit SC011327 Page 4 of 4 regulates and inspects to 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

p.3

School details

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

p.4

School details

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.4

School details

T: 0300 123 1231 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.4