Liberty Woodland School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Liberty Woodland School Mayfield, Old Malden Lane, Worcester Park KT4 7PU

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  Leaders have developed a curriculum policy and an assessment system which underpin a range of ‘project plans’ for pupils aged four to 11; these effectively ‘map’ all the required areas of learning, ensuring broad and balanced coverage. Projects include ‘belonging and connecting’, ‘culinary world’, ‘explorers: space, sea and land’, ‘living habitats’, and ‘outdoor theatre’. The plans, and the assessment system which will be used to monitor pupils’ learning, personal development and progress, are likely to be appropriate. Specialist teachers have been recruited and the school is likely to be well resourced.  There are suitable plans in place for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, which pupils will study through projects. The teaching of British values, including ensuring that due regard will be given to the protected characteristics (as

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Main inspection findings

identified in the Equality Act 2010), has been sufficiently considered within the school’s detailed project planning.  The independent school standards in this part continue to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  There is appropriate planning in place to provide for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The school’s PSHE education plans, which are integrated within every project plan, show how the school intends to develop these areas over time, including pupils’ understanding of British values and equality.  A programme of trips and enrichment activities is planned, including to art galleries, museums, wildlife centres and theatres. Visitors to the school will include creative artists, chefs and an architect. Pupils will learn through ‘circle times’, debates and workshops.  Project planning actively encourages respect for other people by paying particular regard to all of the protected characteristics, in an age-appropriate way.  Staff will follow a clear code of conduct which precludes them from sharing partisan

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Main inspection findings

political views.  The independent school standard in this part continues to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils All paragraphs  Arrangements for safeguarding are now likely to meet requirements because the proposed designated safeguarding leaders have completed an appropriate level of enhanced training, and because the school’s system for completing vetting checks on staff is now compliant with statutory guidance, as identified in Part 4.  The school’s child protection policy has been written with the latest statutory guidance in mind. There is a suitable system for the training of staff, and for the recording and management of safeguarding concerns.  Leaders have produced appropriate anti-bullying and behaviour policies. Leaders have also prepared to log incidents of serious misbehaviour, and any sanctions imposed as a result.  The school is now likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The premises are now complete, and an external fire risk assessment has

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Main inspection findings

been undertaken, identifying no significant concerns which have not been successfully remedied. Fire safety signage, fire extinguishers, a new alarm system, a new hard- wired smoke detection system, new fire doors and a logbook of the required checks are all now in place.  The school’s health and safety and first aid policies are suitable and likely to be implemented well.  Pupils are likely to be appropriately supervised through the adequate deployment of staff, including in the early years.  Arrangements for meeting the standards in relation to pupil admissions and attendance are now likely to meet requirements. There is now a compliant admission register template and the proposed attendance registers make use of the correct codes to record pupils’ attendance.  Leaders have written a suitable risk assessment policy. This includes, for example, written risk assessments for outdoor learning and trips which appropriately consider

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Main inspection findings

how to minimise the risks presented. Since the previous inspection, leaders have also thoroughly risk-assessed the premises.  The independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  There is an appropriate template for the single central record of vetting checks on staff in place.  All the required vetting checks have now been identified and completed on the single central record template, including prohibition from the management of independent schools (known as ‘section 128’ checks).  The school does not intend to employ supply or agency staff.  The independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The proposed school will occupy the proprietor’s home and several out-buildings within the gardens of the premises. The premises are now fully completed, furnished and ready for use as a school. The relevant planning permissions have now been granted.  An appropriate medical room facility is now in place and is likely to meet all the requirements.  There is a very large, secure and appropriate outdoor space for recreation, outdoor learning and physical education.  There are separate toilet facilities for pupils and staff. All washing facilities now include hot and cold water supplies. Drinking water supplies have also now been labelled.  All the requirements relating to lighting, acoustics and water temperature are likely to be met.  The independent school standards in this part are now likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  All the required policies and information are now made available online on the proposed school’s website.  The school’s intended report template for parents suitably outlines pupils’ progress and attainment, as per the requirements.  The independent school standard in this part continues to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The school’s complaints policy is likely to meet the requirements. Leaders have also prepared a suitable complaints log.  The independent school standard in this part continues to be likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Since the first pre-registration inspection in March 2019, leaders have worked hard to ensure that all the requirements are now likely to be met.  As a result, the requirements in this part are now likely to be met if Liberty Woodland School is registered as an independent school for up to 56 pupils aged four to 11.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have written an appropriate accessibility plan, which is likely to comply with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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Main inspection findings

Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  The school intends to operate on a mixed-age basis, which will include children in Reception.  The proprietor, who already runs several nurseries, has a strong working knowledge of these requirements. It is likely that all the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage will be met if this school is registered.

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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

Proprietor Little Forest Folk School Ltd

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Proposed school details

Email address leanna@libertywoodlandschool.com

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proposal

Inspector’s recommendation Age range of pupils Not applicable 4 to 11 4 to 11 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 56 56

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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 44

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable None

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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 5

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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 2

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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 2

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 9

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 1

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Information about this proposed school

 Liberty Woodland School intends to register as an independent day school for pupils aged four to 11 in the London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.  The proposed school will be based in a house, which will be shared with the chair of the proprietorial body and her family. Lessons will also be taught in a number of buildings within the gardens of the premises.  The school intends to provide a project-based, predominantly outdoor education.  The school would be led by the chair of the proprietorial body, who also intends to fulfil the role of headteacher. Leaders will be supported by a governing body.  The school does not intend to make use of any alternative provision.  The school will make use of neighbouring leisure facilities such as playing fields, a swimming pool and a nature reserve.  The school is not operating and has never done so. It plans to open in September 2019.

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Information about this inspection

 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.  This was the school’s second pre-registration inspection.  The inspection was conducted with three days of notice.  The inspector conducted the inspection with the school’s chair of the proprietorial body, who will also be the headteacher.  The inspector considered a wide range of evidence to check the likelihood of the school meeting all the independent school standards. He toured the premises, reviewed key documents and policies, including those related to safeguarding and health and safety, and considered the school’s proposed curriculum.

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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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