The View School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Former Edenbridge Library, Church Street, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 5BD

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 1 and 2  The curriculum will be delivered in line with the curriculum policy submitted with the registration application. Pupils will follow individual pathways to ensure that the curriculum supports both their academic and social and emotional development equally well.  Class sizes will be small. Written schemes of work and plans are based on the national curriculum and provide a clear insight into the way teaching will be delivered. This will include a topic-based approach in key stage 3. Schemes take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of the pupils at the school, all of whom will have an education, health and care plan.  There is appropriate provision for personal, social, health and economic education. This includes activities that encourage tolerance and respect for other people and aim to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain. Leaders see this aspect of the school’s

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Main inspection findings

work as having high importance, due to the complex backgrounds of pupils who will attend the school.  All pupils will receive appropriate careers education and guidance. Opportunities for work experience are planned. Leaders aspire for pupils to leave the school well prepared for their next stage in education, training or employment. Paragraphs 3 and 4  Leaders’ systems to monitor the quality of teaching set out carefully how teachers will assess pupils’ learning. This includes monitoring pupils’ work and formal classroom observations. Suitable baseline checks will be carried out as pupils join the school, according to the individual needs of each pupil. Pupils will have an individual tutor who will provide pastoral support and monitor their social and emotional development carefully.  Procedures to gather information about pupils’ academic, social and emotional development are in place. Staff will use established systems to assess and track

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Main inspection findings

pupils’ progress. School leaders will use this information to monitor pupils’ outcomes closely over time.  Links with other similar schools have already been established to help moderate teachers’ assessments of the quality of pupils’ work. This information will be used to provide parents, carers and/or local authorities with regular updates on the progress of pupils.  It is intended that pupils will acquire new knowledge and make progress according to their abilities and their individual complex needs. Leaders regard the development of pupils’ life skills as an important aspect of the education the school provides.  Leaders understand the importance of staff being able to provide pupils with successful learning experiences. Expectations of behaviour will be high. All staff will undertake training, including de-escalation training, to ensure that there is a common approach to managing the complex behaviour that pupils are likely to present.

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Main inspection findings

 School leaders and the proprietor have a clear vision of the values that underpin the school’s culture. They will ensure that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated and that British values are promoted. Equalities will be actively promoted through the wider curriculum.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  Leaders and staff will promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development effectively through the planned curriculum and through establishing a culture of tolerance and respect in the school.  Curriculum plans ensure that pupils will learn about British values, as well as actively promoting the development of pupils’ self-esteem and sense of self-worth. Leaders intend to use the local environment as much as possible to support this, including

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Main inspection findings

visits to the town centre or to local landmarks such as Hever Castle.  Teamwork and activities that develop pupils’ confidence are very much part of the curriculum. These will be developed through an extra-curricular offer that might include residential visits, depending on pupils’ circumstances. Opportunities for pupils to take ownership of learning are inbuilt, as are activities that promote understanding of the cultures, faiths and beliefs of others.  Leaders have set high expectations of themselves and staff. These include ensuring that pupils are not exposed to partisan political or religious opinions.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 6, 7  The school’s policies, written guidance and procedures to ensure the welfare, health and safety of pupils are sound.  The headteacher is the designated safeguarding lead and has already undertaken

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Main inspection findings

appropriate training. The proprietor, who will also work at the school, and the assistant headteacher, will complete designated safeguarding lead training in July 2019. All other staff will undertake appropriate safeguarding training as part of their induction package. All staff will receive regular safeguarding updates and training to ensure that they are aware of the school’s wider policies and procedures to keep children safe.  The safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website. The published policy meets current requirements. Paragraphs 9 and 10  The behaviour policy is suitable for the ages and the needs of the school’s pupils. The school also has an appropriate anti-bullying strategy. The behaviour policy sets out clear aims, and lists the consequences of poor behaviour. Leaders intend, as part of the school’s electronic management system, to keep records of sanctions imposed for serious misbehaviour.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16  Leaders have set out a clear policy to comply with relevant health and safety legislation. Routine checks on facilities and equipment such as alarms and extinguishers, as well as procedures for fire safety, are already in place. A fire risk assessment has already been carried out. This will be updated annually by an external consultant.  The first-aid policy is suitable and makes provision for effective first aid. Key staff will be trained at an appropriate level to administer first aid, prior to the proposed school opening.  The admissions and attendance registers are electronic and will contain all of the information required. Because the school is not yet open, pupils have not yet been accepted onto the school roll. Plans for the effective supervision of pupils are in place.  The school’s risk assessment policy states clearly how risks are to be managed. A

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Main inspection findings

range of risk assessments is already in place. Others will follow prior to the proposed school opening. These include those for the premises, use of resources and equipment, and off-site visits. Risk assessments will include appropriate actions to reduce risk.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21  Leaders know about the checks that need to be made on adults working with children in regulated activities. These include all of the required verifications such as medical fitness and qualification checks. Leaders are clear that staff will not begin work at the school without the necessary checks in place.  The single central record of staff checks is already established, is sound, and is administered competently. Both the proprietor and headteacher have completed safer

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Main inspection findings

recruitment training.  Suitable checks have been carried out on the proprietor, who was the sole director at the time of the inspection.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31  The proposed school is sited in what was formerly Edenbridge Library. The facilities are of a high standard and include a fully equipped kitchen which will also be used as a teaching space. The classrooms and learning spaces are of a suitable size and appropriately furnished to meet the needs of the pupils likely to be at the school.  The outdoor area provides adequate space for pupils to play and take breaks from learning. Physical education and games will be provided off site at the local Edenbridge leisure centre and swimming pool, which is situated a short walk away

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Main inspection findings

from the school. Leaders also intend to use a local licensed facility for outdoor adventure activities such as canoeing and abseiling.  The lighting, space, heating and acoustics are suitable for the pupils likely to be at the school. Outside, there is sufficient lighting to ensure safe passage in the dark.  There are sufficient toilets and washing facilities for pupils. All facilities have sufficient water supplies, and the temperature of hot water is regulated appropriately. Drinking water is labelled as such.  There is allocated accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils, as well as the short-term care of those who are sick or injured.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32  Leaders are aware of the requirement to provide specified information detailed within Part 6. This includes when pupils are funded or partly funded by a local authority.

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Main inspection findings

They also know that they need to publish certain reports and other information as necessary on the school’s website, particularly information required by parents or carers.  The school plans to provide regular written reports to parents or carers.  The website includes all of the required information such as policies, contact details, and information about the school’s education provision. This includes the school’s safeguarding policy.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33  The complaints policy and procedures are published on the school’s website. They set out clear timescales for the management of a complaint. There is provision for formal complaints to be heard by a panel of at least three people who have not been directly involved in the complaint. The policy rightly stipulates that one of the members of the

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Main inspection findings

panel must be independent of the management and running of the school. It also states that complainants have the right to be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish. The policy makes clear that any findings of a panel must be available to a complainant, and where relevant, the person complained about.  Leaders plan to keep any copies of complaints confidentially and available for inspection on the school premises.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements within the independent school standards. They have ensured that the school is likely to meet all of these standards when it opens and are committed to ensuring that the requirements continue to be met. This includes actively promoting pupils’ welfare.

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Main inspection findings

 The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have a suitable accessibility plan to improve access to the premises. This forms part of the school’s equalities policy. Leaders intend to update the plan at appropriate intervals. The school is likely to meet paragraph 3 of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 11 to 19 11 to 19 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable Up to 24 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable Up to 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable Up to 24

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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 Up to 24

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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 Up to 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this proposed school

 The proposed school is located in a small town in the Sevenoaks district of Kent. It is proposed that it will open in September 2019.  The proprietor is the sole director of a private limited company. The school currently does not have a governing body.  The proposed school will offer specialised provision for up to 24 pupils aged 11 to 19 years. It is anticipated that all pupils will have complex needs, including social and emotional and mental health difficulties.  All pupils will be placed by local authorities and will have education, health and care plans.  It is not proposed that the school will use alternative provision in the first instance.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first pre-registration inspection of the proposed school. The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the proposed school is likely to meet the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. Schools must comply with the independent school standards to be registered.  The inspection focused on compliance with the regulatory requirements of the independent school standards, safeguarding procedures and Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.  The inspector toured the school’s premises and grounds. He reviewed a wide range of documentation, including the single central record, safeguarding information, policies, and curriculum and assessment information.  The inspector met with the director, who represents the proprietor, the headteacher, and the assistant headteacher designate.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, 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

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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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