Central Education Ltd

School progress monitoring inspection report

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The Education Centre 1–3 Barclay Court, Market Place, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1DB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the time of the last monitoring inspection, aspects relating to pupils’ safety and welfare were ineffective. It was found that some staff did not fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities effectively; this is no longer the case.  Staff have received a range of training that enables them to effectively support pupils with complex needs. Because of this, staff now have the knowledge and understanding required to support pupils’ mental health and well-being. Pupils have also benefited from staff undertaking training in how to support a range of special educational needs within the classroom.  All staff have received online safety training and are aware of the risks pupils are exposed to online. As a result, the curriculum is planned to teach pupils about these risks and how to mitigate them. Pupils were able to confidently explain to the inspector

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Main inspection findings

how they manage the risks of using social media and other online platforms outside of school.  Pupils’ behaviour was judged to be inadequate in June 2017. During the inspection, pupils were polite and well mannered to the inspector, staff and each other. Pupils state that behaviour across the school has improved recently; this is supported by the school’s behaviour logs. Although pupils acknowledge that incidents of challenging behaviour do happen, they feel that these are managed well by staff. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  During the inspection in November 2017, leaders had not ensured that appropriate risk assessments for the premises were in place. Since then, leaders have carried out risk assessments of all aspects of the premises, including the school building and outdoor areas. Staff use these risk assessments to plan activities safely and review them regularly, in line with the school’s risk assessment policy.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  In November 2017, the monitoring inspection found that there remained a lack of scrutiny on the behalf of the proprietor. Since this time, the proprietor has relinquished his responsibilities for the school and plans to close the provision on 31 July 2018. Consequently, leaders are not held well enough to account for the work of the school.  Despite uncertainty surrounding the future of the school, the headteacher and deputy headteacher have worked hard to ensure that, where possible, the weaknesses identified at the time of the previous inspection have been addressed.  The headteacher and deputy headteacher have sought external support and guidance from a range of external agencies. Recent work with West Sussex local authority to improve the reporting and recording of behaviour incidents has added additional rigour

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Main inspection findings

to the systems in place to protect pupils from harm.  Improvements in the assessment of pupils’ starting points and the tracking of pupils’ progress enable teachers to use accurate information that informs their planning. Consequently, teaching activities are planned to meet individual pupils’ needs.  Leaders have ensured that pupils receive a broad and balanced curriculum which facilitates pupils’ interests. Pupils speak highly of the opportunities they receive in motor mechanics and science to complete practical activities.  Because the proprietor does not adhere to his statutory responsibilities, the standards in this paragraph are not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain unmet at this inspection

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

 The proprietor must ensure that the persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school: – demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently – fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently – actively promote the well-being of pupils (paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)).

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 The proprietor must ensure that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State (paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b)).

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 The proprietor must ensure that the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified (paragraphs 16, 16(a) and 16(b)).

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Email address info@education-centre.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 27–29 June 2017

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Information about this school

 The Education Centre specialises in working with pupils who have social, emotional and mental health issues. Many pupils have additional needs associated with autistic spectrum disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Most pupils have been excluded from their previous schools.  The school’s standard inspection was in June 2017, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be inadequate and a number of the independent school standards were found to be unmet. The school received a further monitoring inspection in November 2017, when it was judged to not meet all of the independent school standards checked during the inspection.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged not to comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s second monitoring inspection since the school was judged to be inadequate by Ofsted in June 2017. The inspection was carried out without notice.  The school’s action plan to address the unmet school standards identified at the last monitoring inspection was rejected by the Department for Education (DfE) on 27 March 2018. The school has since completed a revised action plan.  During this inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) carried out a range of activities, including talking to pupils and staff and going on a tour of the school during lesson time. The behaviour of pupils was also observed.

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Information about this inspection

 Meetings were held with the headteacher, deputy headteacher, pupils and staff. The proprietor was not available to speak with during the course of the inspection.  HMI scrutinised a wide range of documentation, including the safeguarding policy, the school’s single central record, accident records and information available on the school’s website. A range of policies and procedures, including leaders’ action plan to meet the independent school standards, were also checked.

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Inspection team

Emma Sanderson, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child's school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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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 looked after children, 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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