Break Through School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Break Through 121 Nuxley Road, Belvedere, Bexley Kent DA17 5JX

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the school’s recent material change inspection in January 2019, the school’s child protection policy had not been updated in light of the latest statutory guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2018). Leaders and staff had not been trained in line with this guidance. The recording of safeguarding concerns, referrals and follow-up actions lacked consistency, attention to detail and, sometimes, evidence of the final resolution.  This inspection found the school’s child protection policy to have been rewritten in line with the latest statutory guidance. The policy is readily available in hard copy, in the absence of a website. Designated leaders and staff have been trained in light of the guidance and have improved their systems for recording safeguarding concerns and the tracking of referrals. The culture of keeping pupils as safe as possible in the school,

p.1

Main inspection findings

including through tenaciously following up referrals to external professionals, is strong.  These independent school standards are now met.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraph 16, 16(a)  At the previous inspection, although risk assessments of pupils, trips and the current premises were suitable, leaders had not written a risk assessment policy.  This inspection found the new risk assessment policy to be helpful in outlining the school’s approach to identifying and minimising risks. The policy is being implemented well.  This independent school standard is now met.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 16 and 16(b)  At the previous inspection, the school’s suitable health and safety policy was likely to be implemented well at the proposed additional premises. Plans to staff the provision were appropriate. However, the premises were not yet ready for use. In particular, works were still underway to complete all the actions identified in an external fire risk assessment. Leaders had not yet completed risk assessments for the additional premises.  This inspection found the works at the new premises at 44 Nuxley Road, Belvedere, Bexley DA17 5JG, to have been completed. There is now a suitably enclosed garden area, a new fire detection alarm and emergency lighting system, new internal lighting, floors and a kitchen. The required actions identified in the external fire risk assessment have now been completed. Plans for staffing and implementation of the health and safety policy remain suitable. Leaders have appropriately considered how to minimise

p.1

Main inspection findings

the potential risks faced at the new premises in a written risk assessment.  These independent school standards are likely to be met if the new premises are used and the material change to increase pupil numbers is implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  At the previous inspection, the school’s single central record (SCR) of vetting checks on staff was not compliant because ‘prohibition from teaching’ and ‘barred list’ checks were not understood or recorded appropriately.  The school’s SCR is now compliant as it includes all the required vetting checks on all the required people, including those who will work at the new premises from September 2019.  The independent school standards in this part are now met, and likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The proposed additional premises were previously a medical surgery. The refurbishment works are now complete. The premises include suitable classrooms, a kitchen, toilet and washing facilities for staff and pupils, a shower and changing facility, and a medical room. There is a suitable outdoor garden space, which has now been securely fenced and gated. Plans to mount the new fire extinguishers, organise resources and thoroughly clean the premises inside and out are underway.  The independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met, including those relating to water supplies, lighting and acoustics.  The premises are likely to be able to accommodate up to 20 additional pupils.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  This inspection confirmed the actions taken to meet the independent school standards, and to ready the new premises for occupation, have been effective.  The independent school standard is this part is now met, and the material change to increase the maximum number of pupils on roll to 45 is recommended. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  At the previous inspection, the school’s accessibility plan had not been updated to consider the proposed additional premises.  This inspection found the school to have written two suitable accessibility plans, one for each premises. The school is therefore likely to be compliant with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 if the material change is implemented.

p.2

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. 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.

p.4

Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school now meets the following independent school standards

p.4

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.  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 up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy.

p.4

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

 18(2) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 18(2)(b) no such person carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in either such direction.  21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as is applicable to the school in question.  21(3) The information referred to in this sub-paragraph is– – 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff ("S") appointed on or after 1st May 2007, whether– – 21(3)(a)(ii) a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act

p.4

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors

– 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such a direction – 21(3)(b) in relation to each member of staff ("S"), whether a check was made to establish whether S is subject to a prohibition order or an interim prohibition order, including the date on which such check was completed.

p.4

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.

p.5

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.6

School details

School status Independent special school

p.6

School details

Proprietor Susanne Jones and Lorraine Wetherilt

p.6

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £17,550 to £28,860

p.6

School details

Email address admin@breakthroughschool.co.uk

p.6

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19–21 June 2018

p.6

Information about this school

 Break Through is an independent special school operating as an alternative provider, located in the Belvedere area of the London Borough of Bexley.  It is registered to provide education for up to 25 boys and girls aged 11–17 who typically have social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Pupils have often been permanently excluded or have refused to attend school. A number have been out of school for significant periods of time.  Most pupils have an education, health and care plan. Some pupils are registered dually with a mainstream secondary school, but the majority are registered solely with the school.  The school makes no use of alternative provision.  The two directors are also the proprietors. A new headteacher joined the school in April 2019.  The school’s most recent inspection was a material change inspection in January 2019. The most recent full standard inspection was in June 2018.

p.6

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. The inspector was also asked to consider the school’s application for a material change to its registration. The proprietors wish to increase the number of pupils on roll to 45 by making use of new, additional premises at 44 Nuxley Road, Belvedere, Bexley DA17 5JG.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within Parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 are now met, and likely to continue to be met, if the material change is implemented.  The inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with one of the proprietors. He toured the current and proposed

p.8

Information about this inspection

additional premises, and reviewed a range of key documents and policies in relation to the independent school standards that were checked.  There were no recent responses to Ofsted’s online survey for parents (Parent View) to consider.

p.8

Inspection team

James Waite, 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 .

p.8

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.9

Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk, or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted .

p.9

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.9

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.9

Inspection team

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

p.9

Inspection team

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

p.9