King Edwin School

King Edwin School Mill Lane, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees TS20 1LG

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  School leaders have ensured that all the required safeguarding checks carried out on staff employed at the school have been accurately and diligently recorded on the single central record.  The school’s safeguarding policy meets requirements and makes reference to current legislation. An incorrect policy was initially displayed on the school website. However, an updated and compliant policy was in place in school. School leaders ensured that the updated policy was displayed on the website before the end of the inspection.  Staff safeguarding training is updated regularly by the designated lead for safeguarding.  Pupils spoken to commented that school ‘feels like being part of happy family’, evidencing how safe and secure staff and leaders make them feel.  The leadership team has ensured that this standard remains met. Paragraph 9  The school introduced a positive approach to managing pupils’ behaviour 15 months

p.1

Main inspection findings

ago. This has taken time to ‘bed in’ but senior leaders have gathered evidence which shows the positive impact of the scheme in reducing the number of behavioural incidents.  All staff are trained in restraining pupils and receive regular updates to ensure that their practice is safe and up to date. Training records show that staff use of complex holds has reduced to the extent that extra training for the use of these holds is no longer undertaken. This is further evidence of the successful impact of the school’s positive approach to behaviour management.  School staff keep well-organised and carefully documented records of all incidents of difficult behaviour. All incidents, along with the outcomes, are recorded in the school’s behaviour log. Recording is effective and consistent due to effective staff training. Incidents which result in the need for physical restraint are also logged in the school’s

p.1

Main inspection findings

bound record book.  Discussion with pupils on how school helps them to manage their behaviour shows that pupils use a range of strategies, including leaving the classroom and taking themselves to a ‘chill-out’ space where they can ‘cool down’, to gain control of their emotions. They also commented that staff may suggest they need to go and take time out.  Records show that pupils’ behaviour improves as they settle into the routines of school and begin to develop strategies for effectively managing their behaviour. Leaders explained that pupils could enter the two chill-out rooms available when in crisis. However, most choose to go to a further larger room. Leaders and pupils confirmed that no rooms are locked. Checks made by the local authority and the lead inspector confirmed that pupils are free to leave rooms when they wish.  The behaviour scheme is built on rewards. Therefore, there are few sanctions other

p.1

Main inspection findings

than short periods of exclusion. These are clearly recorded.  The leadership team has ensured that this standard remains met. Paragraph 11  The school’s health and safety policy covers many different areas, including fire safety records. The caretaker ensures that the building is maintained to a high specification. Regular checks are carried out on the premises, for example checks are carried out on the temperature of the water for washing hands in the toilets and on the storage of cleaning materials.  Fire safety checks are carried out daily and the school has acted upon minor actions identified in an audit carried out by the fire brigade. This has ensured that the school has a clear fire evacuation policy and procedures.  The leadership team has ensured that this standard remains met. Paragraph 14  At the time of the inspection, most of the secondary school pupils were undertaking Duke of Edinburgh’s Award outdoor trips so it was not possible to visit classrooms to

p.2

Main inspection findings

check on pupil-to-staffing ratios.  School timetables showed that staff are deployed in each classroom and teaching staff move between classrooms to minimise disruption.  A walk around the primary section of the school was carried by the lead inspector and the assistant principal. This showed that pupil-staff ratios were effective at the time of the inspection. This was evidenced by the calm and purposeful atmosphere, both inside and outside the classrooms. These levels matched those described in school timetables.  Information provided by the school showed that serious behavioural incidents have fallen over time – once again an indication of effective staffing arrangements. Paragraph 16  The school has put in place a risk assessment policy which clearly explains the correct procedure to be carried out when writing risk assessments.  A sample of risk assessments analysed during the inspection showed that staff

p.2

Main inspection findings

adhered to the requirements of the school’s risk assessment policy well. For example, risk assessments for school trips identified clearly the risks within the location and took into account the needs of individual pupils.  Day-to-day risk assessments are also in place for individual pupils. These identify pupils’ needs and possible situations which may trigger difficult behaviour. They include possible avoidance actions and possible distractions and de-escalation techniques that staff may use. None suggested that pupils should be put in rooms from which they had no clear exit.  Senior leaders have ensured that the independent school standards have been met.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors Paragraphs 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21  Senior leaders have ensured that all safeguarding requirements described in these standards have been met.

p.3

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 32  Senior leaders have ensured that the independent school standards requested to be checked by the Department of Education (DfE) remain met. Policies and procedures are reviewed and adjusted on a regular basis. Pupils’ individual needs and behaviour are closely monitored.  Leaders ensure that safeguarding pupils is recognised as a key priority by staff within the school. Training is regularly updated.  Senior leaders ensure that health and safety is given a high priority within school. Staff review and adapt the policies and procedures, making appropriate changes in line with the changing requirements of the school population. Staffing levels are in line with the needs of the vulnerable pupils who attend school.

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

School status Independent special school

p.5

School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

p.5

School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

p.5

School details

Website http://kingedwinschool.zohosites.com

p.5

School details

Email address admin@ne.sparkofgenius.com

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19–21 September 2017

p.5

Information about this school

 Since the last inspection, the school has appointed a governing body.  The school received a standard inspection in September 2017.  The school operates on one site. Some pupils attend alternative provision at Phoenix Training and Sowing Seeds Ministries, which are both in the locality of the school.  The school has a collection of animals, including rabbits, reptiles, alpacas, goats and a pony.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 An emergency inspection was requested by the DfE as a result of a complaint.  The inspection was carried out without notice to the school.  The inspector held discussions with pupils, the principal and vice-principal, the chair of governors and a parent governor, a representative from the local authority and the proprietor.  The inspector analysed a range of school documentation, including the health and safety policy, risk assessments, the behaviour policy and all of the school’s records of behavioural incidents.  The inspector also carried out a tour of the school with the deputy principal, observing pupils’ behaviour and staff numbers.

p.6

Inspection team

Marian Thomas, 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.6

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.7

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.7

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.7

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.7

Inspection team

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

p.7

Inspection team

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

p.7