Sheiling School

Sheiling School Horton Road, Ashley, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 2EB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b)  This inspection took place as a result of a complaint which raised wider concerns about the safety of pupils. The complaint made reference to the quality of supervision and the robustness of procedures to prevent pupils from going missing.  Safeguarding is effective. Staff are appropriately trained in different aspects of child protection, including the government’s ‘Prevent’ duty. They know who to speak to should they have concerns about a child and are clear about the procedure to follow in order to make a referral. Referral records are sufficiently comprehensive. They record the chronology of events, individual staff involvement and actions taken to resolve issues.  Appropriate and detailed checks to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children are in place for staff who work in the school. Staff and trustees responsible for

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Main inspection findings

recruitment have received appropriate training to ensure that they employ people who are suitable to work with children.  The school’s safeguarding policy is up to date and written in conjunction with the latest guidance. It is published in full on the school’s website. Paragraph 9–9(c)  The school sets out positive strategies for the management of behaviour in its policy. This policy is consistently applied by staff so that there is an atmosphere of calm throughout the school. The emphasis is on rewarding positive behaviour and adopting a restorative approach in order to resolve disputes.  Staff keep appropriate behaviour records which enable them to monitor the behaviour of individuals over time and to identify patterns. This enables them to prioritise individuals who need a greater level of support and supervision. Leaders also report anonymised behaviour information to trustees so that they too are aware of key

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Main inspection findings

issues as they arise. Paragraph 11  The proprietor has ensured that an appropriate health and safety policy exists and that this is implemented effectively by staff. This helps to ensure that pupils are well looked after and prevented from endangering themselves. Paragraph 13  An appropriate first-aid policy is in place and staff implement it appropriately. Trained medical staff are on hand to assist when necessary. The policy provides staff with clear, practical advice and outlines the procedures to follow. Paragraph 14  Pupils throughout the school are well supervised. Leaders have ensured that ratios of staff to pupils, commonly one-to-one, are fit for purpose and meet pupils’ complex needs. In certain cases, individual pupils are assisted by two adults. The high levels of supervision are critical in ensuring that pupils manage the large school site, particularly outside areas, safely. Leaders have responded well to previous incidents

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Main inspection findings

when pupils have absconded to ensure that the chances of this happening again are reduced.  Pupils benefit from the strong, highly supportive relationships that they share with staff. Staff are understanding, patient and personable. They know pupils well and make a special effort to create an attachment and invest in the relationship. Consequently, pupils trust staff and work with them to stay safe. Paragraph 16–16(b)  A designated member of staff checks that appropriate risk assessments are in place for school-based activities. These are checked on an annual basis. Risk assessments consider who is at risk, what the specific risks are and the control measures in place to minimise them. For certain activities, such as nature rambles, staff conduct preparatory visits. They check whether any features of the environment have changed and need to be reflected in the risk assessment.  The standards in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  School buildings and facilities are in good condition. They are well maintained to ensure that pupils learn in a conducive environment. Rooms are well lit, warm and have plenty of space. Toilets are clean, tidy and hygienic. Hot water is maintained at an appropriate temperature so as not to be too hot.  Classrooms are attractively decorated with pupils’ work and resources to help them learn. They champion a spirit of curiosity, adventure and exploration, all of which support pupils’ well-being.  The low-level school buildings are dispersed throughout the extensive greenery and woodland which make up the site. Pupils have frequent opportunities to learn and socialise outside. The way the site is designed, combined with effective supervision, helps them to do this safely. The site emphasises the qualities of nature, which have a calming and comforting effect on pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32–32(1)(j)  Leaders meet their obligations in ensuring that all information they are statutorily required to provide is available. Much of this information is published on the school’s website.  Contact details for the school, including key staff and trustees, are available on the website. In addition, policies relating to issues such as exclusion, behaviour, attendance and anti-bullying are also published. A statement of the school’s ethos is clearly presented on the home page. Furthermore, the website provides links to previous inspection reports, the complaints procedure, pupils’ academic performance and arrangements for pupils who special educational needs (SEN) and/or disabilities.  Staff keep appropriate records of funding arrangements for pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities and children who are looked after.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  Leaders have effective oversight of different aspects of the school’s work. They work in an open, collegiate way with the wider staff to ensure that the school complies with the independent school standards. Their self-evaluation is accurate so that they know their strengths and areas for improvement.  Leaders are well supported by the board of trustees, which holds them to account. The nominated trustee for safeguarding visits the school regularly and holds regular meetings with staff to keep informed about current issues. He also checks the single central record to ensure that information about the suitability of staff to work with children is up to date and accurate. The nominated trustee reports back to the wider board, who ask probing questions of leaders in order to understand fully the work of

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Main inspection findings

the school.  Over time, leaders have cultivated positive partnerships with external agencies, including local authorities. They understand the importance of external support networks, given pupils’ high levels of need and the complexity of some pupils’ backgrounds. Where support cannot be secured externally, the school makes up the shortfall so that pupils do not miss out.  The standards in this part are 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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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

Type of school Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 19

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School details

Proprietor The Sheiling Special Education Trust

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School details

Email address enquiries@thesheilingringwood.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28–30 November 2017

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Information about this school

 The Sheiling Ringwood is an independent special school catering for pupils who have complex SEN and/or disabilities. It is part of the Sheiling Special Education Trust and is inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s approach to education.  The school does not use alternative provision.  The school does not enter pupils for public examinations. However, pupils are entered for portfolio-based accreditations, such as ASDAN Personal and Social Development and Personal Progress.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 28–30 November 2017.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to a complaint it had received about the school.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The lead inspector spoke with the head of school, the principal and representatives of the board of trustees. He also spoke with the designated officer for safeguarding in Dorset and the member of staff responsible for attendance.  The lead inspector toured the school with the head of school in order to observe pupils’ behaviour and to review premises, facilities and the wider school site.  The lead inspector looked at a range of documents provided by the school, including those on its website. In particular, he looked at records relating to safeguarding and behaviour.  The lead inspector met with a group of pupils to discuss their experience of the school.

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Inspection team

Steve Smith, 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

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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

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