Education-My Life Matters

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Education My Life Matters 5 Rosenthal Road, Lewisham SE6 2BX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, the school’s child protection policy was not compliant with the latest statutory guidance. The designated safeguarding lead’s training had lapsed and the arrangements for inducting and training staff were weak.  This inspection confirmed that the school’s child protection policy is now compliant with the latest legislation, and published online. A new designated safeguarding leader was appointed in January 2019. Although she has completed an appropriately enhanced level of training, her deputy’s training has lapsed. The arrangements for inducting and training staff are still not strong enough, with heavy reliance on generic online training. However, staff are now clear that practices such as the use of their mobile phones and the drinking of hot drinks while in classrooms with pupils are unacceptable.

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Main inspection findings

 This inspection found that leaders did not make a referral to the local authority’s designated officer (LADO) or to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) following an incident in 2018. Leaders now know that they must make these referrals and what they need to do in the event of any such incident in the future.  Overall, there is more work to do to facilitate a strong safeguarding culture in the school. As a result, paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b) remain unmet. Paragraph 9, 9(b)  At the previous inspection, pupils were not adhering to the code of conduct outlined in the school’s behaviour policy. The school was chaotic and pupils’ behaviour was poor.  This inspection found pupils’ behaviour to have improved. The school was calmer, pupils were more respectful and most attempted to engage in learning. Even so, and taking into account pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs, standards of pupils’

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Main inspection findings

behaviour are still too low. The school’s expectations are inconsistently applied by staff. Paragraph 9, 9(b) remains unmet. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b) and 25  The previous inspection found the school’s premises to be unsafe. Leaders’ approach to risk assessment was too weak. There were holes in the walls, doors without handles and leaders had not realised that a fire exit had been locked shut. The facilities were not clean enough. There had not been a fire drill logged since April 2018, and there were no records of fire safety checks. There had not been a fire safety risk assessment of the new premises.  This inspection found there to have been some minor improvements to the premises, which are cleaner and in better repair. However, fire safety remains a significant concern. Although an external fire risk assessment was apparently undertaken in December 2018, leaders have not yet seen the report and do not know what actions to

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Main inspection findings

take to ensure compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at their new premises. Records of regular fire alarm tests and fire drills are now being kept, but checks on the emergency lighting are still not being undertaken and logged. Staff are not consistently clear about the safe use of one of the fire exits. Electrical appliances have not all been safety tested.  As a result, all the related independent school standards, as listed above and in full in the annex to this report, remain unmet. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 13, 24(1), 24(1)(a) and 24(1)(b)  The school’s first aid policy can now be implemented because there is an appropriately equipped medical room facility. Paragraph 13 is therefore now met.  Although the medical room includes a portable washing facility, the standard is not met in full because the medical room is too far away from toilet facilities. As a result,

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Main inspection findings

paragraph 24(1)(a) is now met, but 24(1)(b) remains unmet. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(d)  At the previous inspection the hot water supply ran scalding hot. This was because the boiler was accessible to pupils, who could change the temperature.  This inspection confirmed that the boiler has now been enclosed; it is no longer accessible to pupils. The water temperature is now safely regulated. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(d) is now met.  Some of the independent school standards in this part remain unmet, as listed in full in the annex to this report. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The previous inspection, commissioned primarily to check the school’s progress in meeting just one unmet independent school standard identified multiple concerns borne out of poor planning and a lack of urgency.  Since this inspection, the proprietor has taken some suitable action. This has included

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Main inspection findings

ceasing operating with primary-aged pupils and recruiting new leaders, including for safeguarding and site management, and a new headteacher, who takes up her position in May 2019.  However, there is much work to do to meet all the independent school standards.  As a result, the independent school standards in this part remain unmet, as listed in full in the annex to this report.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous 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 Secondary day school and alternative provider School status Independent special school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 20–22 March 2018

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Information about this school

 Education My Life Matters is an independent special school that also provides alternative provision.  The school has registration for up to 20 pupils aged 11 to 16. Pupils typically attend temporarily on a dual-registration arrangement with their secondary schools.  The school’s premises continue to be at 5 Rosenthal Road, Lewisham SE6 2BX. This is not reflected in the information held by the Department for Education on its online database, ‘Getting Information About Schools’ (GIAS).  The school’s sole proprietor is supported by an independent executive board. A new headteacher has been appointed and takes up her role in May 2019.  The school’s most recent inspection was its first progress monitoring inspection in November 2018.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.  The school is no longer providing alternative provision for pupils of primary age.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  In March 2018, a full standard inspection judged the school to require improvement, and identified one paragraph of the independent school standards as unmet. At the school’s first progress monitoring inspection in November 2018, the school had relocated its premises without informing the Department for Education (DfE), and many more independent school standards were judged to be not met. The school submitted a second action plan, which was judged as not acceptable, and rejected by the DfE.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection, and was conducted without notice.  This inspection focused on the school’s progress against specific requirements within

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Information about this inspection

Parts 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards. The inspector toured the premises with the school’s administrator, met with the school’s new ‘strategic lead’, the proprietor and the incoming headteacher. He scrutinised a range of documentation, especially in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment.  There have been no recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey, Parent View.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain unmet at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that— – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including— – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility.  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school— – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 13 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including— – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users. 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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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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 .

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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