Aurora Hedgeway School

School material change inspection report

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Aurora Hedgeway School Rookery Lane, Pilning, South Gloucestershire BS35 4JN

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school has a safeguarding policy and it is easily accessible on the school’s website. This policy is in line with government current legislation and guidance.  Leaders, including the proprietor, ensure the arrangements necessary to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils are securely in place. Staff training is up to date and of high quality. Staff apply their training well to their daily work.  Staff are clear and confident in the action to take should they spot any concern about the safety or well-being of a pupil in the school.  Pupils state they are kept safe in school and are well looked after. Paragraph 11  The school has a written health and safety policy and it is available on their website. The policy is implemented effectively. Staff prioritise pupils’ health and safety as a core part of their work. Paragraph 12

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Main inspection findings

 Fire safety measures are in place and records well kept. Leaders ensure that staff are up to date with fire safety training. Fire marshals receive high-quality training to enable them to effectively undertake their roles and responsibilities. Leaders ensure that appropriate checks and tests are routinely undertaken to check that fire equipment is in good working order and complies with the fire safety regulations. Paragraph 14  There are appropriate adults in place to supervise pupils and to keep them safe. Leaders plan to continue this high ratio of staff to pupils if the material change is approved. If leaders implement their strategy effectively, this approach should ensure that the planned increase in the number of pupils is well managed and pupils will be supervised appropriately. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  There is a written risk assessment policy in place. This policy reflects the high expectations leaders place on identifying the risks that pupils may face and the

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Main inspection findings

strategies which help support them.  Pupils’ individual risk assessments are written to successfully match the requirements of their education, health and care plans.  There are effective risk assessments in place for pupils, for the school site and for external activities.  The standard is likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17–21(8)  The systems in place to check the suitability of staff, supply staff, directors and proprietors are comprehensive and robust. Records are detailed and of high quality.  The standard is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22–31(c)  The site is spacious and maintained to a good quality. A few adaptations are to be made to ensure that it meets all of the requirements for pupils once this material change has been agreed. At the time of the inspection, there were some repairs to be undertaken, for example broken glass panels. However, plans are in place to quickly replace these. Those responsible for the maintenance of the school have ensured that these areas have been made safe.  Accommodation to cater for the short-term medical needs of pupils is of high quality. Therapy rooms are available and fit for purpose.  Toilet and washing facilities meet requirements. Water is at a suitable temperature for washing and showering. Suitable drinking water facilities are provided.  Internal and external lighting is suitable. Outside areas are well lit to ensure that people can safely enter and leave the premises.

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Main inspection findings

 The site is secure.  The standard is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The proprietor provides clear strategic direction and holds leaders to account for the quality of education and care pupils receive. Link governors know the school well and provide challenge to leaders to ensure that the independent school standards are met.  The proprietor has recruited leaders who are suitably skilled and experienced. These leaders are well placed to provide the high-quality education, support and guidance for the additional number of pupils being considered. Leaders have a clear strategic direction and school development plans are ambitious.  The standard is likely to be met.

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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 that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Website www.the-auroa-group.com/hedgeway/

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School details

Email address Sarah.Pritchard@the-aurora-group.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14–16 November 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 19 7 to 19 7 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 38 60 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 38 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 7 12

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Information about this school

 Aurora Hedgeway is a small independent special school which provides full-time education for children between the ages of eight and 19. The Aurora Group took up ownership of the school in November 2016.  There are currently 38 pupils on roll. All pupils have an education, health and care plan in relation to autism spectrum disorder.  The school uses one alternative provider: The Wheels Project.  The head of education started in post in February 2018.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place in November 2017. The school was judged to be good.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) following the school’s request to increase the capacity of the school from 40 to 60 pupils. This is the second material change. The first material change was to increase the age range from eight to 19 to seven to 19 and to increase the maximum number of pupils to 40. This material change was approved by the DfE.  There was an additional request by the DfE to consider boarding provision. Leaders, including the proprietor, confirmed that they do not have plans to provide any boarding provision.  The inspectors met with senior leaders, including the area principal. The inspectors also held a phone conversation with the managing director.  Inspectors carried out a walk around the premises with the area principal and head of education to check compliance with the independent school standards.  A number of school documents and policies were scrutinised, including documentation

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Information about this inspection

in relation to safeguarding, child protection and health and safety. The school’s recruitment procedures, including the single central record, were also checked.  Inspectors spoke with staff and pupils throughout the inspection to seek their views.

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Inspection team

Jen Southall, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Nicola Lownds Social Care Regulatory 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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