Lovells Hall

Independent school standard inspection report

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DfE registration number 926/6159 Unique Reference Number (URN) 135554 Inspection number 397629 Inspection dates 21–22 November 2012 Reporting inspector Julie Winyard 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 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

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090070 Independent school standard inspection report

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Purpose and scope of the inspection

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

Lovells Hall is a small independent special school situated near King’s Lynn in Norfolk. It was registered in April 2008 and opened to day and residential students in September 2008. The school was last inspected in May 2009. Lovells Hall aims to provide an integrated child-centred approach that helps students to develop their skills to their full potential. The school makes educational provision for up to six boys and girls aged 11 to 19 years who have severe learning difficulties and additional needs such as autism, profound, multiple and physical difficulties, or challenging behaviour. There are currently three boys on roll, aged between 16 and 18 years. All have statements of special educational needs. The school is closing in March 2013. The two day students will be moving to a nearby independent school which has the same Principal as Lovells Hall. The third student will be moving to adult provision.

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Evaluation of the school

Lovells Hall provides an outstanding quality of education. The recommendation from the last inspection has been achieved and the school meets all the regulations for independent schools. Teaching and the assessment of students’ learning are outstanding, as is the provision for their care. Provision for students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding and their behaviour in school, and in their frequent visits to the local community, is outstanding. The arrangements for the welfare, health and safety of students are outstanding. Safeguarding procedures are fully in place and students are kept exceptionally safe.

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Quality of education

The quality of the curriculum is outstanding. Each student has a personal timetable that includes all the required areas of learning. This timetable is changed as often as is necessary to meet the student’s individual education plan and their changing needs. Daily activities are very carefully organised so that students know what they will be doing. Each student’s key worker goes through this with them using the best method of communication for that student, including symbols. Schemes of work are designed by the school to meet students’ individual needs. Detailed lesson plans are based on a thorough daily check of what each student can do and how they can be stretched just a little bit further. Students are encouraged to ask for help; this is a key skill to prepare them for adult life but one that they find very demanding. One student was observed to take the hand of his key worker and direct it to the jigsaw

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Quality of education

piece he wanted next. Independent school standard inspection report The curriculum fully meets the requirements of students’ statements of special educational needs. Students are very well prepared for the next stage in their education. Because the school is closing, students are being introduced slowly and steadily to their new school or to adult services. Parents say students are gaining confidence every time they visit their new school and are able to take part in activities there. Students leave Lovells Hall with a nationally recognised qualification gained through the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN).

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Quality of education

The curriculum is extended through daily opportunities for visits to the local community. During the inspection, students went bowling in the nearby large town. They were confident about getting in and out of the car and were able to ask for bowling shoes, using their symbol communication books. Students go for walks on most days to the local shop and are able to buy healthy snacks with the help of their key worker. They are taken out to a nearby café once a week for lunch and choose what they would like to eat. Students are taken swimming and horse riding as part of the physical education curriculum. The school uses sports activities to help students to socialise and cope with new and exciting activities and events, but planning does not always include the key skills for learning in each sport.

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Quality of education

The quality of teaching and assessment is outstanding, as is students’ progress. An exceptional feature of the school is the daily discussion of every learning session and the use of video to record students’ learning. This helps all professionals who support students to see how they are getting on and to decide on the next step in their learning and social development. There are excellent systems for checking students’ progress in all areas of learning. Every small step is recognised and celebrated with the students which helps them to do even better. Key workers have excellent relationships with their students and this means that students feel relaxed and keen and ready to learn. Key workers carefully follow the lesson plans written jointly by teachers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists. However, they do not always make the most of extra learning opportunities that crop up during lessons that are not mentioned on these daily

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Quality of education

plans. One example observed was when students were using a computer program that is aimed at developing coordination skills, but also introduced them to different types of music.

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

The provision for students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding. Students’ behaviour is managed exceptionally well and is outstanding. The staff’s vigilance and excellent relationships with students help them to settle quickly and improve their behaviour. For example one student regularly broke a cup every Thursday morning when he arrived at school. This behaviour pattern was successfully broken because he was given a task to do as soon as he arrived in the building, which meant he ‘forgot’ to break the cup. While students become excited, they are generally able to control their emotions and recognise when they have ‘over-stepped the mark’ for example, by accidentally hitting someone when waving their arms. Students are able to think about how behaving in a particular way makes Independent school standard inspection report them feel. For example, one student identified that something was not right that day

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

by using phrases like ‘you are grumpy’ and ‘you are stressy.’ After a while he said ‘something different.’ This represented a huge step in his personal development as he was able to communicate how he felt to a trusted adult, and indicated that ‘different’ made him very anxious. Students’ social development is very well supported through group work. For example, in a literacy lesson led by the speech therapist, pupils passed objects to each other and showed they had learned to take turns.

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Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

Students’ spiritual development is evident in their excitement and enjoyment of activities. For example, while bowling, one student clapped and vocalised excitedly when receiving ‘high fives.’ Students’ frequent visits outside the school help them to get used to new situations and take part in everyday events such as shopping in the local community. They experience life in multi-cultural Britain through celebrating different festivals in school and visiting different places of worship. Parents say students love coming to school and as a result attendance is excellent.

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

The school makes outstanding provision for students’ welfare, health and safety. Excellent, trusting relationships between students and all staff help towards the careful, highly effective behaviour management and students’ outstanding behaviour. The school has outstanding child protection, safeguarding and health and safety policies and practices which are used every day to make sure students are kept as safe as possible. Students are closely supervised at all times. Required training, for example in safeguarding, fire safety and physical interventions has all been completed. Detailed risk assessments are completed for every activity students take part in, both in school and in the community. They take account of each student’s particular needs and are updated after every activity. Day students bring a healthy packed lunch to school and part of their daily routine is making their sandwich using the ingredients given to them by their parents and carers.

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Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

The school has carried out the required checks on all staff and proprietors prior to their appointment, to make sure there are no reasons why they should not be employed to work with children. They are recorded as required in a single central register.

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Premises and accommodation at the school

The school and grounds comply with regulatory requirements. They allow pupils to learn safely and effectively. Classrooms are well-resourced, decorated and maintained. They are appropriate in size for the number of students and the specialised curriculum. Independent school standard inspection report

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Provision of information

No parents’ views were received through Parent View. However parents gave their highly positive views of the school to inspectors. The information they receive about their children’s education is of exceptionally high quality. The two-weekly home visits provide an excellent opportunity for lengthy discussion about each student’s learning and care needs. Parents say that the home-school diary is invaluable because staff rapidly pick up any issues from home. Parents hear about their child’s progress every day from both key workers and professionals such as speech and language therapists and occupational therapists. Parents are thrilled with the provision and describe the school as ‘Amazing!’

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Provision of information

The prospectus is readily available. It is a clear, informative, accurate and up to date. It includes a summary of all the required policies and indicates that full copies are available on request. Parents take an active part in the annual review of their children’s statement of special education needs and in the frequent updates to their individual education plans.

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Manner in which complaints are to be handled

The school’s complaints procedure meets all regulations.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The proprietor has ensured that the school meets The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2010, schedule 1 (‘the Regulations’).

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What the school could do to improve further

While not required by regulations, the school might wish to consider the following points for development:

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What the school could do to improve further

 ensure that key physical and sports skills are clearly identified for all sports activities so that students improve their sports skills as well as their emotional and social skills  enable key workers to become more confident in recognising unplanned opportunities for building on learning when they are working with students. Independent school standard inspection report Inspection judgements outstanding

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The quality of education

How well the curriculum and other activities meet the range of needs and interests of pupils 

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The quality of education

How effective teaching and assessment are in meeting the full range of pupils’ needs 

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The quality of education

How well pupils make progress in their learning 

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The quality of education

Pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development Quality of provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development 

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Welfare, health and safety of pupils

The overall welfare, health and safety of pupils  Independent school standard inspection report

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School details

Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 3 Girls: 0 Total: 3

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School details

Number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs Boys: 3 Girls: 0 Total: 3

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School details

Email address lovellshallschool@hotmail.co.uk

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School details

Proprietor Cherie Buckland Independent school standard inspection report

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carers to share with their children. It describes Ofsted’s

main findings from the inspection of their school.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

I really enjoyed meeting you and seeing how well you are learning.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

Your school is outstanding in every way.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

Your teachers and key workers do an excellent job in helping you to learn new things. It would be even better if your key workers made the most of everything you like doing to help you learn even more.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

You are given excellent care at the school and this helps you to be relaxed and happy. You sometimes get a bit ‘stressy’ or ‘grumpy’ but everyone helps by ‘fixing it’ if anything goes wrong.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

I had a great time at bowling and you got good scores. I think you could do even better at sports if your staff planned the skills you need to learn and help you to achieve them.

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Inspection of Lovells Hall School

I hope you do just as well at your new school and keep learning and behaving as well as you do now.

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