Mortimer House School

School material change inspection report

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Nuneaton Road, Fillongley, Warwickshire CV7 8DL

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  There is a strong culture of safeguarding within the school. The safeguarding policy, which is available on the school’s website, reflects current government requirements. The policy is reviewed annually and all staff are well trained to safeguard their pupils.  Concerns related to safeguarding are responded to swiftly and are well documented. Staff work well with parents and carers and other stakeholders to ensure that pupils are well supported and safe.  Handover arrangements at the beginning and end of each day ensure that all concerns about pupils’ safety are discussed and acted upon if necessary.  Leaders work closely with the safeguarding personnel in the authorities that they serve.  Pupils say that they feel safe in school.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are

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Main inspection findings

implemented. Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c) and 10  A detailed behaviour policy is displayed on the website that all staff and pupils understand.  Pupils behave well around the school. They are polite and friendly to visitors.  Instances of poor behaviour are recorded carefully and monitored by staff. Pupils are encouraged to behave well by the use of personalised ‘praise and concern records’ that they reflect upon at the end of each day.  An effective anti-bullying strategy is set out in the school’s ‘Behaviours that Challenge’ policy.  Pupils say that there is no bullying in the school. They are confident that if bullying were to occur, staff would deal with it well.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Paragraphs 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15  There is a comprehensive health and safety policy displayed on the school’s website.  Appropriate, regular checks are made to ensure that the building and provision of

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Main inspection findings

supplies are safe.  The building is carefully managed to protect people from fire. Exit routes are well marked and clear of any obstructions. Fire safety instructions are displayed in every room. Routine fire procedures are known and rehearsed termly.  A well-equipped first-aid room is available should any pupils feel unwell. First-aid procedures are set out in a detailed first-aid policy. There are qualified first aiders on site at all times.  Pupils are well supervised and cared for throughout the day.  An admissions register and a pupils’ register are kept in line with regulations.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Paragraphs 16(a), 16(b) and 16(c)  The school takes care to assess all possible risks. Staff complete risk assessments related to the safety of the school building and related to outside visits. These are appropriately detailed and contain relevant control measures.

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Main inspection findings

 Staff also complete individual risk assessments for each pupil. The actions are included in pupils’ personal education plans.  Debriefing at the end of each school day ensures that welfare needs are discussed and action is taken where necessary.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 23(2), 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b)  There are suitable, separate toilet facilities for both adults and pupils, including those with disabilities. These are clean and well maintained.  There is one shower for the use of pupils when necessary.  A well-equipped medical room, in which there is a sink with hot and cold water, provides for pupils who are unwell. It is well placed close to a toilet.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 27(a) and 27(b)  The school and outside areas are well maintained. Teaching areas are bright, clean and fit for purpose. There is ample space in the six classrooms to cater for the proposed number of pupils.  All areas, inside and outside, are well lit.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Paragraphs 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a) and 28(2)(b)  Drinking water is available both upstairs and downstairs and is clearly marked as such.  The temperature of the hot water from the taps was checked and found to be suitable. The headteacher plans to have regulators fitted to the hot taps to ensure that water remains at the correct temperature.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b) and 29(2)  There is a small, attractive outdoor space for relaxation at Mortimer House. This is

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Main inspection findings

not large enough to enable physical education lessons to take place on site. To address this, staff take pupils to a nearby park for games, when appropriate. Pupils can also access more extensive facilities at the Valley House site, where there are large grounds and showering facilities.  The school’s development plan indicates that, as the number of pupils increases, the school will also use nearby leisure facilities when pupils are ready to venture away from their security at Mortimer House.  These standards are likely to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  Leaders are well qualified and experienced in educating pupils with mental health and associated educational needs. They have created thoughtful and detailed plans for the education of their pupils on both sites.  The structure of the organisation provides strong support for the headteacher at the

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Main inspection findings

school.  Leaders have created an environment where there is high staff morale and everyone actively promotes the well-being of pupils.  Leaders demonstrate a good understanding of the independent school standards. They have ensured that all independent school standards are met.  These standards are likely to continue to be met if the proposed material changes are implemented. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  A detailed accessibility plan ensures that pupils at the school have equal access to the curriculum.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 3–5 October 2017

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 5 18 18

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Maximum of 18 in total (part time and full time)

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 5 18

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 4 18

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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 5 18

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 4.5 12

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 2.5 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3 8

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Information about this school

 Valley House is a small school catering for up to six pupils. It is owned and managed by Young Foundations Limited. Since the last inspection, the school has opened an additional site at Mortimer House, 17 Victoria Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7HS.  With permission from the Department for Education, five pupils have been educated at Mortimer House since September 2018.  The school was first registered in May 2007 as a school providing for up to six pupils aged from 12 to 18 years. The school offers bespoke transitional ‘step down’ (a pupil’s identified needs met by appropriate services) provision for pupils with mental health and associated educational needs. Many of the pupils have been discharged from hospital provision. There are currently five pupils on roll. One student is in the sixth form.  Some pupils attend part time and are on roll at other educational providers. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in October 2017, when the school was judged to be good.  The school does not make use of alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 This material change inspection, commissioned by the Department for Education, took place with two days’ notice. This was the first material change inspection.  The purpose of the inspection was to assess whether the school is likely to meet the independent school standards relating to: welfare, health and safety of pupils; premises and accommodation; and the quality of leadership and management if the material changes are implemented. The changes requested were: to change the additional premises at Mortimer House, 17 Victoria Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7HS to the main school address while the smaller site at Valley House, Nuneaton Road, Fillongley, Warwickshire CV7 8DL would still be used as additional premises; and to increase the maximum number of pupils from six to 18. Leaders also wish to change the name of the school from Valley House to ‘Stepping Stones’.  The inspector toured the site accompanied by a member of staff.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector met with the headteacher and the operations director for Young Foundations. She also spoke to four members of staff and to three pupils.  The inspector examined a number of documents relating to pupils’ welfare, health and safety, including the safeguarding policy, to check compliance with the regulations for independent schools.

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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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Inspection team

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