Fairfield House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  During the progress monitoring inspection in January 2019, the school’s safeguarding policy was not fit for purpose. This was because the school’s published policy did not fully reflect the Secretary of State’s guidance published in September 2018. The policy did not include the required details about the school’s approach to any instances of peer- on-peer abuse, including sexting. This meant that pupils were not as safe as they could be.  The action plan evaluation of May 2019 judged that the standards were likely to be met if the school’s proposed actions were implemented. This was because leaders submitted an updated version of the safeguarding policy which reflected the most recent government guidance.  The school’s safeguarding policy, which is available on the school website, is up to date and refers to current guidance issued by the Secretary of State. An appropriate section

p.1

Main inspection findings

in the policy details leaders’ approach to peer-on-peer abuse, which includes sexting.  There is a strong culture of safeguarding. It is seen as everyone’s responsibility, including that of the pupils.  Recruitment processes are thorough. New staff receive a systematic introduction to the routines and processes in the school. They shadow an existing teacher, before carrying out their own responsibilities. In this way, pupils get to know the new staff and feel safe with them.  Leaders keep up to date with safeguarding issues through briefings from the local authority and external bodies. Leaders share these updates with staff during monthly staff meetings and supervision meetings. Daily meetings between the residential staff and school staff discuss any potential safeguarding issues, so that everyone knows what action may be needed to keep pupils safe.  This standard is now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

p.1

Main inspection findings

Paragraph 25  At the progress monitoring inspection in January 2019, this standard was not met because ongoing maintenance requirements at the main school site had not been completed well enough. This meant that there were a variety of risks to the pupils. Additionally, the inspector identified that the school’s systems for following up maintenance work did not work as well as they should.  The action plan evaluation of May 2019 judged that the standards were likely to be met if the school’s proposed actions were implemented. The plan included relevant actions and timescales. Leaders submitted photographic evidence to show where repairs had been completed.  All risks posed by incomplete maintenance work have been eliminated. This is because leaders have remedied all the issues identified at the progress monitoring inspection in January 2019.  Doorway threshold plates are in place to close the gaps across door thresholds and

p.2

Main inspection findings

flooring. The damaged floor and wooden edging strip are repaired and fixed in place.  The toilet wall tiles and the broken fingerguard on the toilet door are repaired. Likewise, the toilet adjacent to the medical room is fixed and is functional. The extractor fan in the toilet has been resealed and secured.  Leaders have replaced the flooring in the small corridor next to the medical room.  Three maintenance officers are employed by the proprietor to remedy systematically any maintenance issues. Systems to identify and follow up any identified maintenance work are effective. The process is orderly, so repairs are completed swiftly, and pupils are not at risk of harm.  The headteacher introduced twice-daily checks of the premises and accommodation. Any issues are recorded, and this list is sent to the assistant director. Repairs are prioritised and completed in a timely manner. Any emergency incident is communicated to the

p.2

Main inspection findings

central team, and maintenance officers are deployed immediately.  This standard is now met.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  The monitoring inspection in January 2019 found that leaders had successfully addressed deficiencies identified at the previous material change inspection but found other unmet independent school standards at the school’s main site. The school’s safeguarding policy was out of date and raised concerns over pupils’ welfare. Similarly, ongoing maintenance issues were not resolved well enough and posed a risk to pupils. Therefore, the standards for leadership and management were unmet.  The action plan evaluation of May 2019 indicated that action was planned to remedy all issues identified at the inspection in January 2019. The school supplied additional evidence to indicate that it had already completed repairs in relation to some aspects identified.  Leaders have successfully remedied the unmet standards relating to the school’s

p.2

Main inspection findings

safeguarding policy and ongoing maintenance work. Pupils are safe.  An improvement plan guides the work of the headteacher. She is knowledgeable about the independent school standards. An external school improvement officer monitors the work of the school each half term and reports on its progress to the assistant director.  Leaders have taken effective action to remedy any weaknesses from the previous inspection and all standards are now met.

p.3

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

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.5

School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

p.5

School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 1

p.5

School details

Email address education@faifieldresidential.co.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16–17 May 2017

p.5

Information about this school

 Fairfield is a special school that caters for up to five pupils between the ages of eight and 19 years with autism spectrum disorder, severe learning difficulties, complex health needs and challenging behaviours.  The school is housed in purpose-built premises. It has two small classrooms, a garden, toilet facilities and a medical room.  The school is in the north-west of England and is owned by Fairfield Residential. The company also owns Fairfield farm project, which provides off-site provision for pupils at the school. The farm is located approximately six miles from the school.  All pupils at the school have an education, health and care plan in relation to their autism spectrum disorder and associated special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The school was last inspected by Ofsted in May 2017.  The school does not use alternative provision.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the Department for Education (DfE), which is 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 monitoring inspection.  This was the second progress monitoring inspection following the school’s previous standard inspection in May 2017.  The DfE accepted the school’s action plan following the previous monitoring inspection in May 2019.  The inspection was conducted without notice to the school.  During this inspection, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI) held meetings with the headteacher and the assistant director. HMI toured the school and the school site. She scrutinised a variety of documents, including the safeguarding policy, records of maintenance issues and recruitment documentation.

p.7

Inspection team

Eileen Mulgrew, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

p.7

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

p.8

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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.

p.8

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–

p.8

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

p.8

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and

p.8

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of 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.

p.9

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of 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.

p.9

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

p.9

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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

p.9