ASPIRE: Lifeskills

School material change inspection report

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ASPIRE: Lifeskills Learning Centre Town Hall Chambers, Market Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3EB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a) and 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy has been regularly updated, taking account of the latest guidance from the government and the requirements of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. A copy of the policy is available to download from the school’s website.  The school’s policy provides comprehensive information about staff’s safeguarding responsibilities and training requirements. Two members of staff are trained to the required standard to act as designated safeguarding leads. All other staff have received appropriate safeguarding training, together with regular updates.  The policy provides staff with suitable information about the variety of risks to which pupils might be exposed, including child sexual exploitation, online abuse, ‘county lines’, radicalisation and peer-on-peer abuse. Links to other related policies are set out, including a summary of the school’s approach to the safer recruitment of staff.

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Main inspection findings

 The policy document provides supportive details for staff about managing any safeguarding concerns or disclosures. All relevant contact details are provided for staff with safeguarding responsibilities and for appropriate external agencies.  Designated safeguarding leads will work across both buildings. Pupils will take part in classes in both buildings and staff will be similarly deployed. The additional premises adjoin the existing school building. Paragraph 11  The additional premises are to be leased from Charnwood Borough Council, the landlord for the school’s current premises. Arrangements for all aspects of the premises’ health and safety have been agreed between the landlord and the school’s proprietor.  The school’s health and safety policy sets out expectations and procedures for all aspects of health and safety, including premises-related requirements. All procedures make appropriate reference to the relevant features of the proposed additional

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Main inspection findings

accommodation.  A range of relevant documentation has been completed by the borough council and shared with the school. This includes gas heating compliance, a legionella log, an electrical installation certificate, an asbestos check and a fire risk assessment.  The proprietor has completed an additional risk assessment related to use of the premises as a school.  A schedule of weekly and monthly health and safety checks has been agreed with the landlord. Paragraph 12  A suitable fire risk assessment has been produced for the adjacent building in which the additional teaching space is located. This has been completed by a qualified external company on behalf of the landlord. The school also employs an independent company to review regularly all aspects of premises and fire safety.  Appropriate arrangements are in place for evacuation of the additional premises in the event of fire or another emergency. Practice fire drills will be held both independently

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Main inspection findings

for the additional building and in conjunction with the existing premises. Attendance and visitors’ registers are in place at reception in the main building and at the entrance to the additional premises. The additional building has two emergency exits, both clearly labelled and served by emergency lighting.  The school has suitable arrangements in place for routine checks and servicing of the fire alarm system, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment and electrical safety. Copies of any checks completed by the landlord will be stored by the school, together with records related to the existing school premises. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school’s current risk assessment policy has been revised to apply to both the existing and additional premises. This policy is closely linked to the school’s policies for safeguarding and off-site visits.  Senior leaders are responsible for the completion and review of a variety of risk

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Main inspection findings

assessments, including those related to the premises and teaching activities. Individual risk assessments for pupils form part of their individual support plans. These include a weekly risk assessment of activities for each pupil, which will include activities taking place in the additional premises.  Actions have been taken to ensure the safety of window openings throughout the first-floor accommodation in the additional premises.  The standards in part 3 are likely to continue to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) approves implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23 and 28 and all related sub-paragraphs  The additional premises include suitable toilets and washrooms for boys and girls. The additional building includes a toilet facility which can be secured from the inside and is intended for use by only one pupil at a time. In addition, pupils will continue to have access to all facilities within the school’s existing premises.  Staff have access to separate toilet and washroom facilities, both within the additional premises and in the main school building.  Pupils will continue to use changing rooms and showers at off-site facilities for games and physical education.  Labelled drinking water is available for pupils in the kitchen adjacent to the main teaching room in the additional building.  Washrooms for pupils and for staff have cold and hot water available in their washbasins. The temperature of the hot water is subject to suitable temperature

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Main inspection findings

regulation. Cold water in these washbasins is not to be used as drinking water. Paragraph 24 and all related sub-paragraphs  Pupils will continue to have access to medical facilities in the main school building. First-aid equipment will also be available in the additional building. The medical room in the main building will be available for the short-term care of any sick or injured pupils. Paragraphs 25, 26 and 27 and all related sub-paragraphs  The accommodation in the additional building consists of one large classroom, an adjacent kitchen and two staff offices. The classroom is suitable in size to accommodate significantly more than the proposed additional five pupils. It provides a suitable environment for teaching general subjects and practical activities, such as art and design.  The classroom is light and airy. Acoustics are good and there is no noise intrusion from adjacent spaces.  Suitable lighting is provided throughout the corridors and staircases. External lighting

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Main inspection findings

ensures safe access to and from the premises. Paragraph 29 and all related sub-paragraphs  The school will have sole use of the entrance to the additional premises. This leads directly to stairs to the accommodation on the first floor. Access is secured from the inside and cannot be entered without permission. Similarly, there is an additional emergency exit from the teaching space, which is secured from the inside.  Pupils will continue to have access to the existing external spaces for play and recreation. Games and additional physical activities are provided at suitable off-site facilities.  The standards in part 5 are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34 and all related paragraphs  The proprietor has ensured that the buildings and facilities of the school site are suitable to support effective learning. The accommodation in the additional building provides sufficient space to cater well for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.  The proprietor and senior leaders have an excellent understanding of the independent school standards. They have planned in detail, with diligent attention to the requirements of these standards.  The standards in part 8 are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has produced a suitable accessibility plan for the premises. The school meets the requirements 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 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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Email address aspirelifeskills@hotmail.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 13–15 March 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 19 11 to 19 11 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 15 20 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 15 20 Number of part-time pupils 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 15 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 15 20

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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 15 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision N/A N/A

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Information about this school

 ASPIRE: Lifeskills Learning Centre is located in Loughborough town centre. The premises have been refurbished to admit pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.  The school was registered to admit pupils in the age range of 11 to 19 years in March 2017. Its first standard inspection was in March 2018.  There are currently 15 girls and boys on the school roll.  The school does not use the services of any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned this material change inspection in response to the school’s request to add additional teaching space in an adjacent building and to increase the maximum capacity from 15 to 20 pupils.  The inspector visited the planned additional teaching space in a building adjacent to the current school premises to assess the suitability of these premises and the school’s capacity to increase the number of pupils on roll.  There were no pupils on-site during this inspection as all pupils were taking part in a planned off-site visit. The inspector held discussions with the headteacher, who is also the proprietor, and with members of the school’s senior leadership team.  The inspector scrutinised school policies and records as identified in the DfE’s commission for this inspection in order to check the school’s compliance with the relevant independent school standards.

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Inspection team

David Young, lead inspector Ofsted 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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