Wood Edge Independent School

School material change inspection report

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Wood Edge Independent School Wood Edge, Ruff Lane, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4UL

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(1)(b)(ii), 2(2), 2(2)(a), 2(2)(b), 2(2)(c), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(f), 2(2)(g), 2(2)(h), 2(2)(i), 3, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e), 3(f), 3(g), 3(h), 3(i), 3(j), 4  School leaders have developed a clear rationale for the curriculum. On entry to the school, each pupil is assessed to establish their emotional and clinical needs. Teachers quickly establish pupils’ levels of basic skills. Care is taken to find out about their interests and aspirations. Based on this information, the school develops an individualised curriculum which is tailored to meet each pupil’s needs.  The quality of teaching has improved since the previous inspection. Teachers – now permanently appointed – plan programmes that now support secure progress in pupils’ learning. Teachers are much more able to accurately assess how well pupils

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Main inspection findings

grasp new learning and how well they master it. Teachers use this information well to inform their teaching.  The teaching of basic literacy and numeracy skills has also improved. Teachers have a good knowledge of how to teach basic skills and have a clear understanding of the courses pupils follow. Consequently, teachers are able to effectively guide pupils through these courses and the assessment requirements.  Pupils work towards appropriate qualifications. Leaders ensure that the school has the capacity to enable pupils to study subjects at a higher level in the future.  The school has demonstrated how its curriculum model can be adapted for pupils from the age of 11 to 19. Teachers have sufficient skills and experience to adapt to teaching a wider age range, including post-16 studies.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 5, 5(a), 5(b), 5(b)(i), 5(b)(ii), 5(b)(iii), 5(b)(iv), 5(b)(v), 5(b)(vi), 5(b)(vii), 5(c), 5(d), 5(d)(i), 5(d)(ii), 5(d)(iii)  Leaders and teachers create a diverse range of opportunities to promote pupils’ personal development. Pupils develop a good range of life skills. These include socialising with unfamiliar people in unfamiliar situations, managing personal finances, cooking and personal care. Staff take pupils on educational visits locally and further afield.  Staff use a range of strategies to help pupils develop their moral understanding and principles. Examples of these include the use of stories and scenarios which – with good questioning – help pupils begin to understand how others may feel. Restorative justice helps pupils reflect on their own behaviour. This has contributed to the improving standards of behaviour throughout the school.  The school is in a strong position to extend the promotion of pupils’ personal

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Main inspection findings

development to the wider age range proposed in the material change request.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Pupils are very well cared for. Staff have a full understanding of pupils’ emotional and clinical needs. Leaders organise regular programmes of support that are tailored to each pupil.  Through the work of a specialist careers and guidance adviser, pupils develop a broad understanding of the opportunities available to them when leaving the school. The specialist adviser helps pupils form aspirations. They also ensure that pupils develop a good understanding of how they can engage with further training beyond school.  All staff are well trained and have a detailed knowledge of how to keep pupils safe. The site is secure, and the school meets health and safety requirements.  The school’s safeguarding policy meets requirements and is available to parents and carers on request. The school’s culture relating to the safeguarding of pupils is strong.

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Main inspection findings

All staff are very well trained. They know, in detail, how to support pupils and how to identify potential threats to pupils’ welfare. Staff also know how to respond if they have any concerns about a pupil, or indeed someone raises a concern with them. The school has very good systems of communication with external agencies which are also charged with protecting children.  Broadening of the age of pupils educated within this school is unlikely to diminish any of these strengths.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors Paragraphs 17, 18(1), 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(2)(f), 18(3), 18(4), 18(4)(a), 18(4)(b), 18(4)(c), 19(1), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i),19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(2)(e), 19(3), 19(4),

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Main inspection findings

19(4)(a), 19(4)(b), 19(4)(c), 20(1), 20(2), 20(3), 20(3)(a), 20(3)(a)(i), 20(3)(a)(ii), 20(3)(b), 20(3)(b)(i), 20(3)(b)(ii), 20(3)(b)(iii), 20(4), 20(5), 20(5)(a), 20(5)(a)(i), 20(5)(a)(ii), 20(5)(b), 20(5)(b)(i), 20(5)(b)(ii), 20(5)(b)(iii), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 20(7), 20(7)(a), 20(7)(b), 20(8), 20(8)(a), 20(8)(b), 20(8)(c), 20(9), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6) 21(7), 21(7)(a), 21(7)(b), 21(8)  Leaders have robust systems in place to ensure that only suitable people can be engaged to work with pupils in this school.  This aspect of the school’s work will not be affected by the proposed material change.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 23(2), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(1)(c), 24(2), 24(3), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c) 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b), 29(2), 30, 31, 31(a), 31(b), 31(c)  The premises are of good quality. Rooms are spacious and well resourced. Requirements for medical accommodation and toilets are met.  Teaching spaces, equipment and furniture are suitable for the proposed pupil age range.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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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), 34(2)  The school’s inspection in June of this year highlighted several weaknesses in leadership. The proprietors have taken effective steps to ensure that pupils are routinely taught by permanent teaching staff. Proprietors have made the position of head of school a permanent position. Proprietors have very recently formed a board of governors. These structural developments to the school’s teaching and leadership have improved the quality of education and helped pupils feel more secure.  Leaders have developed more systematic procedures to evaluate the work of the school and plan further improvement.  Leaders have sufficient capacity, experience and skills to continue to improve the school while accommodating pupils from the wider age range as proposed by the material change.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is

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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

Type of school Independent special school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–13 June 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 14 to 16 11 to 19 11 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 2 Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Not applicable

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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 Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 3 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 Since the last inspection, in June of 2018, the teachers who were in post continue to be in post and their positions have become substantive. Similarly, the head of education is a permanently appointed member of staff.  The proprietorial board has, very recently, established a governing body.  The school was registered in June for 2017 for five boys and girls aged 14 to 16 years who have autism spectrum disorder and/or social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan and are in the care of the local authority.  The school uses no alternative providers of education.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was requested by the Department for Education (DfE). It was in response to an application made by the school to extend the age range of pupils it can enrol from 14 to 16 years to 11 to 19 years. There was no request to increase the number of pupils on roll. This was the school’s first request for this material change to be made.  The inspector reported on parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards, as requested by the DfE.  The inspector spoke to the chief executive officer of the proprietorial board and the head of school. The inspector spent time with pupils and looked at their work. The inspector examined the school’s accommodation, procedures and documentation.

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Inspection team

Neil Mackenzie, 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

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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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