Broadbeck Learning Centre

Broadbeck Learning Centre Brearcliffe Drive, Buttershaw, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD6 2LE

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a–b), 9, 9(a–c), 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16 (a–b)  School leaders and the proprietor have high expectations with regards to all aspects of school management and take their responsibility for health, safety and safeguarding of pupils and staff very seriously.  The proprietor has employed a health and safety manager who is well qualified and has a background working for the fire service. He brings a wealth of expertise to this area of health and safety management for the proprietor group and schools. The proprietor has also appointed assistant health and safety managers, who bring additional capacity to the monitoring of health and safety in the group’s schools. The headteacher has ensured that there is a trained health and safety officer within her school team. The health and safety policy, fire risk assessment and personal evacuation plans are all compliant with statutory guidelines and the Regulatory

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Main inspection findings

Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The practical applications of this specialist staffing and the policy documents are seen in staff training records, school operational systems, fire safety logs and the well-maintained safety features of the school building and equipment.  The proprietor acknowledged that there had been a failure of the school to reply to a request for information regarding fire safety in 2017, despite the evident high level of commitment to welfare, health and safety in the school. The proprietor circulated an advice document to all headteachers in their group of schools in July 2017, in response to the Grenfell disaster and checked and tested any cladding on the buildings. Information was also circulated about the increased risks associated with buildings over 18 metres high. The school site checked during this inspection confirmed that the school building was not over 18 metres in height and had no

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Main inspection findings

cladding.  The headteacher was not in post at the time of the request for fire safety information that triggered this inspection, and is aware of the requirement to be accountable to the Department for Education for all of the independent school standards. The headteacher recognises the importance of responding to requests for any information that the Department for Education may send to the school.  The headteacher has ensured that there is an up-to-date and comprehensive fire risk assessment for the school and individual personal evacuation plans and risk assessments for pupils and staff with additional needs.  The proprietor has ensured that there is an effective and detailed policy to cover all aspects of health and safety. The headteacher ensures that routine weekly and monthly checks of the school building and equipment are completed in line with the health and safety policy. The proprietor monitors health and safety through at least

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Main inspection findings

two full health and safety reviews each year. The headteacher has written a separate improvement plan for health and safety that is closely monitored by the school board, which has responsibility for governance.  The proprietor sends out monthly safeguarding and health and safety updates to schools. The headteacher acts upon these, as seen in the minutes from meetings, and in the notices and displays around the school that share important safeguarding and health and safety information.  The headteacher has ensured that log books that refer to health and safety and routine checks of equipment and safety drills are carefully maintained. Staff files show a comprehensive set of training that is refreshed as appropriate and matches the proprietor group policies and protocols.  The high level of scrutiny from governors and support from the proprietor regarding health and safety in the school can be seen in school documents, staff training

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Main inspection findings

records and general knowledge and practice. Staff and pupils who were spoken with during the course of the inspection said that they are aware of the systems that are implemented by the headteacher and feel safe and confident around the school.  School leaders have ensured that information about safeguarding and pupil welfare that is available from the school website is compliant with current statutory guidance. The proprietor provides high-quality induction and training in safeguarding and child protection. The proprietor audits training profiles frequently to ensure that all staff are up to date with their training and in meeting the expectations of the school board.  The headteacher has well-organised systems to foster and monitor the safety and well-being of pupils and she ensures that these systems are implemented carefully by all staff. The positive relationships between staff and pupils contribute to the safety of

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Main inspection findings

pupils. Pupils say that they feel safe in the school and this helps to reduce their anxiety and allows them to concentrate effectively on school work. Pupils speak highly of the support they receive and comment on experiences they have had that make them feel good about themselves and their futures.  School leaders have a behaviour policy which is implemented consistently across the school. Pupils behave very well. Pupils have positive attitudes to learning and all staff show consistently high expectations of what pupils can achieve. The anti-bullying log and the sanctions logs show that sometimes pupils do have periods when they are upset or have emotional difficulties. However, these logs also show that they are low in number and that restorative practice is used well to support pupils after incidents.  School leaders ensure that well-trained staff implement the first aid policy effectively. All accidents and near misses are recorded carefully and monitored as part of the

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Main inspection findings

governors’ routine evaluation of health and safety. The accident book entries are detailed and cross-referenced in a consistent manner to the school’s safeguarding protocols.  The headteacher keeps an accurate admissions register and is assiduous in notifying local authority partners if any pupil leaves the school without a confirmed destination. School staff record attendance for each school session and the close working relationship with carers is evident in the positive attendance figures seen during the inspection.  School leaders have ensured full compliance with this part of the independent school standards checked during this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  The proprietor has invested in the school building, which has classrooms and social spaces that are light and airy, welcoming and fit for purpose in terms of lessons, therapeutic sessions, breaktimes and lunchtimes.  The proprietor has ensured that all signage relating to fire safety equipment and evacuation routes are clear and easy to follow. Pupils can evacuate the building without staff support. There are also fire risk assessments and personal evacuation plans in place to ensure that any additional needs of pupils or staff are met with regards to fire safety and reduction of risks.  The multi-use games area is available for physical education lessons and serves as the fire assembly point in the event of an evacuation. Pupils spoken with during the inspection are clear on how to evacuate the building safely. Fire drill records are up to

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Main inspection findings

date and consistent with the school policy on frequency of practice evacuations.  School leaders have ensured full compliance with this part of the independent school standards checked during this inspection.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(a–d), 32(1)(g), 32(2), 32(2)(a), 32(2)(b)(ii), 32(2)(c–d), 32(3), 32(3)(a–b), 32(3)(d), 32(3(g)  The headteacher has ensured that the school’s policy for safeguarding and child protection is on the school’s website and is comprehensive, easily understood and follows all current statutory requirements, as published by the Department for Education.  The headteacher has communicated the school’s ethos on the website, which states a commitment to ‘Providing a safe, nurturing learning environment where high aspirations lead to achievement and positive futures.’ The headteacher also uses the website to communicate essential contact information, the admissions process, additional documents on how pupils with additional needs are supported and school policies relating to behaviour and safety, as required by the independent school standards.  School leaders have ensured full compliance with this part of the independent school

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Main inspection findings

standards checked during this inspection.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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

Type of school Other independent special 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

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

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School details

Website witherslackgroup.co.uk/broadbeck- integrated-therapeutic-provision/ Email address sarah.walsh@witherslackgroup.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 9–11 May 2017

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Information about this school

 Broadbeck Learning Centre is an independent special school for pupils aged 7 to 18 years with social, emotional and mental health needs.  All pupils attending the school have an education, health and care plan and this is a requirement to be admitted to the school.  The school has capacity for 14 pupils with 10 pupils on roll at present.  The school has a staff team of 13.  The school was last inspected with a full standard inspection on 9 May 2017. There has been a change of headteacher since the inspection and a new chair of the governing body is in place.  The proprietor group provides the function of governance in the form of the school board.  The school has no specific specialism or religious affiliation.  The school is based on one site and does not use any alternative education provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was an additional inspection, commissioned by the Department for Education. It was conducted without notice, to check compliance with the Independent School Standard Part 3(12) and Part 5(25) and to check the school’s safeguarding policy and its implementation (Part 3), as well as to check that the safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website or otherwise made available (Part 6).  The inspector carried out the following inspection activities: – a tour of the school with short visits to all classrooms and social areas – a check of the school buildings against the independent school standards – scrutiny of the school’s website, documentation checks and training records – meetings with staff, the headteacher, governors and the proprietor – meetings with pupils.

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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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