On Track Education Barnstaple

School material change inspection report

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On Track Education Centre Barnstaple 16a Castle Park Road, Whiddon Valley, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8PA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Leaders, including the headteacher and directors/proprietors, have a keen awareness of the need to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare. They have a good knowledge of current safeguarding requirements as well as health and safety legislation. Leaders have used this information well to prepare the premises for the arrival of pupils.  The safeguarding and child protection policies are published on the school’s website. These are up to date and comply fully with relevant government requirements, such as ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (2018).  Other staff, including the deputy headteacher and health and safety officer, also demonstrate a good understanding of the school’s approach to safeguarding. This is described as ‘underpinning’ all aspects of the school’s work, particularly as staff work with highly vulnerable pupils, including those at risk of exclusion or with an education,

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Main inspection findings

health and care (EHC) plan.  Leaders have ensured that school-wide processes for keeping pupils safe – including maintaining the single central record, ensuring rigorous staff recruitment and training procedures and implementing the secure online child protection record-keeping system – are robust. These are already firmly in place. As a result, staff are likely to be effective in protecting pupils and promoting further effective inter-agency work when the additional site is operational.  Leaders have taken appropriate steps to ensure, as far as is practicably reasonable, that the premises and accommodation are likely to meet the full range of pupils’ social, emotional, behavioural and physical needs. Therefore, pupils are likely to be able to access their full curriculum entitlement through safe on-site practice under leaders’ current plans and proposals.  The school will have appropriately trained designated safeguarding leaders on site at

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Main inspection findings

all times when the school is open. There are at least three members of staff trained to a suitable standard, with current child protection training and experience. Paragraphs 11–12  The proprietors/directors have ensured that the school has a relevant health and safety policy. This is up to date and includes mandatory information pertaining to the health and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors.  The headteacher and the school’s health and safety officer have sought relevant external advice to support the implementation of the school’s plans and actions. For example, they have been assiduous in following recommendations from the fire service to ensure that the site is safe, including installing emergency lighting and replacing evacuation signage.  Leaders have been diligent in ensuring that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and related activities are fully compliant. As a result, the school’s premises and

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Main inspection findings

practices are likely to keep pupils, staff and visitors safe when the site becomes operational.  Leaders have followed advice well to minimise the risk of harm to others from fire. For example, the means of escape, fire alarms and equipment, including extinguishers and fire doors, are fully installed and well maintained.  Leaders’ records and logs for fire testing and maintaining equipment are comprehensive and up to date. These provide firm evidence that those responsible for running the school are taking all aspects of fire safety seriously. Paragraph 14  The overwhelming majority of pupils likely to be on the school’s roll (if not all pupils) will be placed with an EHC plan. This is likely to mean that supervision for all pupils will include a teacher as well as additionally named adult support. Therefore, supervision and staff deployment are likely to be fully satisfied. Paragraph 16  Leaders have ensured that appropriate written risk assessments are already being

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Main inspection findings

implemented. The headteacher and health and safety officer undertake routine checks to identify potential issues. For example, the school’s ‘Record of visual checks of external grounds’ is regularly revisited to ensure that concerns are remedied quickly.  The standards in this part are likely to be fully met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22–31  Following the acquisition of the premises in December 2018, the proprietors have worked effectively to ensure that the accommodation and facilities are likely to meet the full range of pupils’ needs for the intended age range, in line with the school’s registration.  Leaders have actively considered the breadth of the curriculum. They have given due consideration as to how the accommodation may be best utilised to promote and enrich pupils’ learning, development and experiences. For example, there are designated spaces for pupils to receive individual counselling and/or therapeutic support. In addition, there are rooms dedicated for pupils to design their own residential accommodation (flat) to enhance pupils’ independent skills.  Leaders have ensured that other key aspects of this standard are likely to be met. For example, there is adequate outdoor space for physical activity and playing games.

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Main inspection findings

However, leaders recognise that this is not entirely sufficient to satisfy a full physical education (PE) curriculum. Therefore, leaders plan to use local amenities to provide further sporting activities and these are likely to have suitable changing and showering facilities.  Leaders have ensured that the premises and accommodation are likely to be fit for purpose in terms of sanitary, washing, toileting and medical/first-aid arrangements for pupils. For example, there are separate girls’ and boys’ toilet facilities which can be found on both levels of the school. Leaders are ensuring that there are two medical/first-aid rooms, again, each on both floors of the premises.  The kitchen has been improved to meet commercial standards. This is intended for on-site catering and meals, as well as for pupils’ learning and lessons.  Leaders have ensured that, as far as is practical and reasonable, other standards in

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Main inspection findings

this part are likely to be met. For example, there is access to a cold-water drinking supply in the lobby, drinking water is clearly labelled and heaters or other water supplies are unlikely to pose a risk of scalding pupils.  The premises have suitable lighting for internal activities as well as external purposes. Conditions in rooms, such as acoustics and sound insulation, are likely to be suitable for the intended purpose as described during this inspection. For example, the lighting, acoustics and ventilation in the art room are likely to ensure that this will meet pupils’ needs.  The standards in this part are likely to be fully met.  However, there is still some remaining work or tidying to be completed. Most significantly, the uneven and cracked paving in the outside/play space remains a potential trip hazard. In addition, there are some areas where ‘clutter’ has gathered, which poses a potential risk. Finally, the medical room on the first floor was not

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Main inspection findings

complete or fully furbished at the time of this inspection. These are easily remedied, but should be addressed prior to pupils starting on these premises.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders, including the headteacher and directors/proprietors, are experienced in running independent special day care schools. The linked school for this provision was inspected in July 2018 and judged to be good. The same leaders are taking effective action in their preparatory work to ensure that the site is likely to benefit the additional pupils as requested through the material change application.  Leaders and staff have an in-depth knowledge of the particular needs and vulnerabilities of the pupils likely to use this provision. As a result, they have ensured that the facilities should be fit for purpose in providing high-quality care and education for all pupils, including those with an EHC plan.  The school’s leaders are highly focused on safeguarding. Consequently, systems, processes and policies are already in place to protect pupils at this site. Leaders are

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Main inspection findings

diligent in their assessments and subsequent referrals of pupils already in the school to make sure that pupils needs are fully met.  The standards in this part are likely to be fully met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders and staff demonstrate a high regard for actively promoting equalities and diversity through the school’s existing aims and vision. For example, the website sets out the school’s intent for a ‘fresh start’ for every pupil, regardless of their background, experiences or the nature of pupils’ individual protected characteristics.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietors/directors Jane Cox/Penny Harris

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School details

Email address barnstaple@ontrackeducation.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 10–12 July 2018

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recommendation

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

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 34 48 48

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 34 48

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 35 48

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 35 48

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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 35 48

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 24 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 23 29

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Information about this school

 On Track Education Centre, Barnstaple is owned by On Track Education Services. It provides education on three existing sites in Barnstaple. It has expanded in response to requests from Devon local authority to provide additional placements for pupils in North Devon.  The school was last inspected on 10–12 July 2018. It was judged to be good.  The school is an independent day school registered for up to 36 pupils. The school is registered for pupils between ages 7 and 18 years.  All pupils have an EHC plan. Most pupils have histories of disrupted education before joining the school. In their previous schools, most have shown highly challenging behaviour and are likely to have been at risk of repeated exclusions.  All pupils are placed at the school through the local authority, with the majority from Devon. Other local authorities to use the school include Cornwall and Somerset.  The school does not have a governing body. The directors fulfil the roles of governors.

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Information about this school

 The school does not use any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 This material change was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider whether Part 3, paragraphs 7, 11–12, 14, 16; Part 5, paragraphs 22–31 and Part 8, paragraph 34 are likely to be met and to advise whether the school’s request for a material change should be approved.  The inspector held discussions with leaders, including the headteacher and one of the directors/proprietors, to consider the reasons, rationale and intentions for the material change.  The inspector also held further discussions, particularly about safeguarding and pupils’ welfare, with other staff, including the deputy headteacher, support team manager and the health and safety officer.  The inspector reviewed key documentation relevant to the scope of the inspection, including the single central record, the school’s online safeguarding reporting system, written health and safety policies and associated risk assessments. The inspector also

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Information about this inspection

scrutinised documents relating to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  The inspector, headteacher and a director completed a joint walk of the premises to consider the suitability of the facilities and environment for the requested material change.  The inspector also checked the school’s website, particularly related to the relevance and implementation of the safeguarding policy.

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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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