ISP School

School material change inspection report

p.1

ISP School (Kent) Church Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3EG

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The child protection and safeguarding policy has been updated this term to meet the latest statutory guidance. The policy now reflects the requirements of keeping children safe in education 2018 and the specific needs of pupils who attend the school. The policy has also been adapted to show the recent changes to the designated safeguarding leads in the school.  Pupils feel safe at the school. They know that there are trusted adults to talk to. Staff place great emphasis on ensuring that pupils are in school daily, so they can check on their well-being. Moving to one site will allow senior leaders to oversee pupils’ safety and well-being more easily.  Staff training is up to date and this means that staff know the risks that pupils may be exposed to. Staff know how to refer on any concerns and are aware of whistleblowing procedures.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraph 11  The school has a comprehensive health and safety policy and related procedures. Regular checks are made on all aspects of site safety and for different activities within the school day. If the material change is granted, leaders will only need to manage health and safety considerations on one school site. Paragraph 12  Stringent procedures are in place to check all aspects of fire safety regularly at the current premises in Teynham. Pupils explained that there are regular fire drills to practise evacuating should there be an emergency.  Before the new teaching block is handed over to the school for use, a full fire risk assessment will be completed by a suitably experienced or qualified person. The same regular checks that take place in the main building will also be introduced. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The current risk assessment policy is comprehensive and fit for purpose. Risk assessments are carried out for each area of the school and every activity undertaken.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Each pupil has their own personal risk assessment. Risk assessments are updated regularly to take account of emerging information and changes in circumstances.  School leaders have thought carefully about any new minor risks that may be introduced by having more pupils on the Teynham site. However, they rightly believe the benefits of the change outweigh these. For example, pupils will no longer be educated in a busy town centre location and will no longer need to be transported between sites.  Leaders have ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 22, 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c)  There are already ample appropriate toilets for pupils to use at the Teynham site. The new teaching block will include a new disabled toilet and additional toilets and hand washing facilities for girls and boys.  Pupils over the age of 11 will continue to have their physical education lessons off site, where showering facilities are available. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  The current well-equipped medical room is suitable for the proposed increase in pupils on the Teynham site. Paragraph 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  The current school site is well maintained. There is good signage and potential hazards like steps are clearly marked.  Current classrooms are bright and airy. The sound conditions are appropriate. The classrooms in the new teaching block although smaller are also bright, well insulated

p.2

Main inspection findings

and appropriate for teaching up to six pupils each as the school proposes.  There is appropriate external lighting outside of the school and this will be extended to the new building. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)  The new teaching block will have hot and cold running water in the toilets. There will also be a separate labelled supply of drinking water in the communal area.  Leaders currently ensure that the water supply is tested regularly to ensure the absence of legionella and to ensure that hot water is not too hot at the point of use. Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The Teynham site includes an abundance of outside play to play and for physical education and other learning. This includes a field, hardstanding sports court/playground and an extensive agricultural area.  Leaders have ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE

p.2

Main inspection findings

decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.3

Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The updated child protection and safeguarding policy is available on the school website.  Leaders have ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.3

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  Leaders are fully committed to protecting the well-being of pupils. They see the move to one site as an opportunity to make the school an even safer environment for learning.  The headteacher and other leaders demonstrated their ability to ensure that all of the independent school standards were met at the recent monitoring visit in May 2018. They have thought carefully about how they will ensure that they continue to be met if the material change is granted.  The proprietor and those responsible for governance have ensured that suitable investment has been made to create the new teaching block and make the move to one site. However, some written documentation and evidence collected during my visit shows that there is a lack of clear lines of accountability at different levels of governance. This sometimes slows the decision-making process for the school and

p.3

Main inspection findings

therefore the pace of improvement.  Leaders have ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.5

School details

School status Independent special school

p.5

School details

Website ispchildcare.org.uk/under-construction

p.5

School details

Email address senior.school@ispchildcare.org.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 27–29 June 2017

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 7 to 18 7 to 18

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 34 42 42

p.5

Information about this school

 ISP School (Kent) is an independent day special school. It is part of the Integrated Services Programme (ISP), a company that cares for and educates children and young people looked after by local authorities.  ISP is part of the Partnership in Children’s Services Group (PICS), which is owned by Sovereign Capital Investments.  The school is currently situated on two sites, one in Sittingbourne and the other in nearby Teynham. Historically, secondary pupils studied at Sittingbourne and primary- age pupils at Teynham. However, the older pupils attended the Teynham site for horticulture, animal care and motor-vehicle maintenance. The school plan to move all pupils to the Teynham site and close the Sittingbourne site.  The school caters for pupils who have social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  All the pupils have an education, health and care plan.  At the previous full inspection in June 2017, the school was graded inadequate with a

p.5

Information about this school

number of unmet independent school standards. At the monitoring visit in May 2018 all the independent school standards were found to be met.

p.6

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 check the suitability of a material change request made by the school. The school proposes to move all pupils to the Teynham site full time. To facilitate this and to accommodate 42 pupils, the school is constructing a new teaching block that includes four classrooms, a staff room and additional toilet facilities for pupils. If the material change is granted the school plan to close the Sittingbourne site.  Meetings were held with the headteacher, the designated safeguarding lead, the inclusion manager, the human resources business partner and a group of staff. The inspector had a discussion with the proprietor’s representative who is also a member of the local governing body.  The inspector toured the existing Teynham site with the headteacher and the new teaching block with the commercial director. Pupils and staff were observed working

p.7

Information about this inspection

in lessons and around the school. The inspector spoke with several pupils, including at lunchtime.  A number of documents were scrutinised, including the school’s self-evaluation, safeguarding documents, health and safety documentation and minutes from governors’ meetings. The inspector looked at the school’s website.

p.7

Inspection team

Lee Selby, 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 .

p.7

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.

p.8

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 .

p.8

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.

p.8

Inspection team

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 the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.8