The Bridge

School pre-registration inspection report

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The Bridge 67 Albert Road, Romford, Essex RM1 2PS

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All relevant paragraphs  The school has developed suitable curriculum, teaching and assessment policies which consider the needs of pupils, all of whom will have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  Curriculum and teaching plans cover all the required areas of learning for pupils aged 11 to 16. This planning is likely to take account of pupils’ different ages and starting points. Pupils in key stage 3 will access a full national curriculum. Pupils in key stage 4 will work towards up to four GCSEs and other qualifications, including functional skills and vocational courses in food technology and art.  The school has contracted an external provider to ensure that careers education is suitably current and impartial.  The teaching of British values is planned cohesively across the curriculum, as well as through the personal, social, health, citizenship and economic (PSHCE) education

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Main inspection findings

programme.  Leaders are committed to ensuring that pupils know about, and are taught to respect, all of the protected characteristics as identified in the Equality Act 2010.  The school will be well resourced and staffed. Adults are likely to be appropriately deployed to meet pupils’ complex needs.  An appropriate assessment system is in place. Pupils’ starting points will be identified in all subjects when they join the school. Their progress will then be tracked termly. Teachers will use this information to help support pupils’ learning.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  The school’s curriculum plans, including for PSHCE education, assemblies and events, exemplify a commitment to promote British values and equality.  The school will not have a religious ethos and will welcome pupils of all faiths. The

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Main inspection findings

planned PSHCE programme ensures that pupils will learn about a range of religions, beliefs and cultures.  The school’s staff code of conduct is clear that no member of staff may promote partisan views and that balanced viewpoints must always be presented.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All relevant paragraphs  Leaders are aware of their responsibilities and understand the importance of creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture. Designated safeguarding leaders have completed the appropriate level of safeguarding training. All staff will complete safeguarding training before they begin working with pupils in September 2018.  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects the most recent statutory guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2016) and is available online. Leaders are aware of the upcoming changes to statutory guidance in September 2018.  The school’s behaviour and anti-bullying policies are likely to meet requirements. All incidents of misbehaviour and bullying, and any sanctions imposed as a result, will be logged and reviewed.  Arrangements for the provision of first aid are likely to meet requirements. There will

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Main inspection findings

be at least two full-time first aiders with the appropriate training. Processes for managing and recording accidents and the provision of first aid are likely to be fit for purpose.  The school is likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. All aspects of fire safety (emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, smoke detection and fire alarms) are regularly checked and these checks are accurately logged. Fire alarm tests are completed weekly and emergency evacuation practices will be completed termly with pupils.  The school’s health and safety and risk assessment policies are likely to meet the required aspects of health and safety in reducing identified risks. Appropriate exemplar risk assessments have been completed for individual pupils, trips and the use of off-site facilities. However, a more thorough risk assessment of the premises is required.  Admission and attendance registers will be kept electronically and are likely to meet

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Main inspection findings

requirements.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors All relevant paragraphs  All the required vetting checks have been undertaken for all staff, governors and directors. These are recorded on a single central register of checks. However, more attention to detail is required in ensuring that the register is completed meticulously, including dates and initials for every vetting check.  The school does not intend to employ or use supply staff or volunteers.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All relevant paragraphs  The school’s premises, a refurbished school building on the ground floor only, are clean, safe and well maintained. The health and safety policy is likely to meet requirements and to be well implemented.  There is a secure entrance monitored by a surveillance system. The premises are fully accessible to users with disabilities.  The building includes six large classrooms, including art, science and music rooms. There is also a food technology room and a hall for lunchtimes, assemblies and indoor sports. There are two offices, enough toilets and washing facilities (in which water temperature is safely regulated) and a suitable medical room (once the washing facility is installed). There is an appropriate outdoor play space. Local parks and leisure centres will be additionally used for physical education.  Drinking water is available throughout the building at drinking taps and fountains,

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Main inspection findings

which are appropriately labelled.  The acoustic features, sound insulation and internal and external lighting are all likely to be suitable throughout the building.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information All relevant paragraphs  All the required policies and information are available on the school’s website.  The school’s intended report template for parents and carers, which will be sent at the end of the academic year, is likely to meet requirements as it clearly identifies pupils’ progress and attainment in all the subject areas taught.  Leaders are aware of their duties in relation to education, health and care plans, and the provision of income and expenditure statements to local authorities.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The school’s complaints policy, which applies to all the schools within the trust, is likely to meet requirements. An appropriate complaints log has been prepared.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Leaders have a secure and improving knowledge of the independent school standards.  Leaders are well organised and have worked effectively in readying themselves to open The Bridge as an independent school and alternative provider in September 2018.  All the independent school standards are likely to be met and pupils’ well-being is likely to be assured if this independent school is registered.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school’s accessibility plan is likely to meet requirements.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Secondary school and alternative provider

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Annual fees (day pupils) £18,000 to £36,000

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proposal

Inspector’s recommendation Age range of pupils Not applicable 11 to 16 11 to 16 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 50 50

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proposal

Reason for inspector’s recommendations  Leaders asked the inspector to consider a maximum capacity of 50, rather than the 30 identified on the school’s original application. The inspector agreed that the premises could safely and appropriately accommodate up to 50 pupils.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable None

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 2

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 6

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Information about this proposed school

 The Bridge intends to register as an independent special day school in the London Borough of Havering.  The school will be part of the Life Education Trust. It will cater predominantly for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  The setting has never operated as a school. However, it currently operates as The Bridge Centre, a registered alternative provider with the London Borough of Havering. No current pupils have an education, health and care plan. All attend part-time and are dual-registered with their mainstream schools.  The school does not intend to make use of any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.  The setting has never operated as a school. This is the school’s first pre-registration inspection.  The inspector conducted the inspection with the trust’s chief executive officer, the head of school and the business development manager. He also met with the trust’s teaching and learning leader and the chair of governors.  The inspector toured the premises, reviewed key documents and policies, including those related to safeguarding and health and safety, and considered the school’s proposed curriculum.  The inspector also considered a wide range of other evidence to check the likelihood of the school meeting all the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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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