Chartfield School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Chartfield School 45 Minster Road, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent CT8 8DA

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 3, 3(a) and 3(d)  The previous standard inspection found that Part 1 was fully met. Teaching, learning and assessment, and outcomes for pupils, were also judged to be good. The previous standard inspection took place under the common inspection framework. Since then, a new framework for inspecting schools – the education inspection framework – has been introduced.  At the previous standard inspection, minor weaknesses were identified in some aspects of the quality of teaching and learning. These included levels of challenge for most-able pupils, for instance. Inspection activities during this monitoring inspection, including brief classroom visits and discussions with pupils about their work, showed that the quality of teaching continues to have a positive impact on the progress and attainment of pupils. This includes in the early years.  School leaders have continued to ensure that this standard is met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b) and 32(1)(c)  At the time of the previous standard inspection, safeguarding was found to be ineffective. Leaders and staff did not know enough about statutory guidance for keeping children safe. Consequently, a number of requirements were not met, including the requirement to implement a written health and safety policy, aspects of fire safety and the effective implementation of a risk assessment policy.  Leaders have ensured that all staff have a better understanding of keeping pupils safe. Appropriate safeguarding training has been undertaken. This includes for the school’s designated safeguarding leads. Consequently, staff understand what to do if they have concerns.  The culture of keeping children safe is stronger. Staff were able to explain how aspects of their safeguarding training had impacted on their teaching. They are now much more

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Main inspection findings

aware of the risks pupils face when using the internet, for instance.  Pupils told the inspector that they feel safe in the school. This includes from bullying, or what they termed as the ‘mean behaviour’ of other pupils. They enjoy coming to the school. Those who talked to the inspector said that they feel that staff care for them. Pupils were able to explain what to do if the fire alarm sounds, because they remember from the last time they had a fire drill.  The school’s safeguarding policy, which is published on the school’s website, is compliant with current guidelines. Staff now receive updates on aspects of safeguarding routinely. It was clear during the inspection that safeguarding now has a much higher profile than in the past.  The school has a new health and safety policy. After the last standard inspection, leaders commissioned an audit of health and safety, which was carried out by an independent

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Main inspection findings

consultant. The findings of that audit are being acted on. This includes additional training for staff, including first aid, manual handling and fire warden training.  A fire-risk assessment is now in place and is updated annually. Fire-risk assessments have been completed by independent consultants who are suitably qualified. The initial risk assessment carried out immediately after the last inspection identified several shortcomings. This led to a substantial refurbishment of the fire alarm system, including smoke detectors and emergency lighting. The recent annual review of the fire-risk assessment confirmed the school is now compliant with current guidelines.  The school’s risk assessment policy has been updated. A review of risk assessments has been undertaken by an external independent consultant. Leaders have acted on the information this gave them. The school’s business manager has completed risk

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Main inspection findings

assessment training. Leaders now have a better understanding of how risk assessments are used to reduce risks.  Risk assessments are now in place for a wide range of day-to-day events in the school. This includes for educational visits outside of the school or when using different parts of the school’s premises or grounds, for instance.  Because school leaders have addressed the shortcomings found in this paragraph, this standard is now met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(b), 18(3), 21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii) and 21(3)(b)  The previous standard inspection found evidence that some pre-employment checks on staff had not been carried out. It also found that the single central record of checks on adults did not contain all the information required.  During this monitoring inspection, a check of the single central record found that all

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Main inspection findings

required checks are now fully in place. This includes checks on prohibition orders and appropriate checks on the proprietor and school leaders.  The headteacher and proprietor have completed training to give them a better understanding of the safe recruitment of staff.  Because school leaders have addressed the shortcomings found in this paragraph, this standard is now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  At the last standard inspection, the school’s premises were found not to provide adequately for the health, safety and welfare of pupils.  During this monitoring inspection, the school appeared to be clean and well maintained. Classrooms and communal areas were clutter free. The headteacher and business manager were able to show how checks on the premises help to reduce risks and identify problems when they arise. This includes with the safe storage of cleaning materials and checks of the outside areas of the school to ensure that the site is safe for

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Main inspection findings

pupils and staff.  Because school leaders have addressed the shortcomings found in this paragraph, this standard is now met. 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 standard inspection found that the proprietor had not ensured that all of the independent school standards were met. Safeguarding was not effective. Leaders’ management of the health and safety of pupils and staff was not strong. Some aspects of the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage were found to be weak. Governance and leadership of the school were not strong enough.  During this monitoring inspection, it was clear to see that the unmet independent school standards have been addressed and are now met. Leaders have a better understanding of the standards, although recognise that they still have more to learn. Leaders have also successfully addressed the weaknesses identified in the early years phase of the

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Main inspection findings

school.  A new business manager has been appointed, since the last inspection. The proprietor, headteacher and business manager are working as a more cohesive team to ensure that the independent school standards are fully met, and the quality of education offered by the school continues to be good.  Because school leaders have addressed the shortcomings identified at the last inspection, and all of the independent school standards looked at during this inspection are now met, Part 8 is also met. Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  The parts of the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage identified as weaknesses during the last standard inspection mirrored those found in the rest of the school. In particular, the welfare, health and safety of children was not managed well.  Leaders have addressed these shortcomings as part of their work to improve the whole

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Main inspection findings

school. Staff in the early years have received the same training as those in other phases of the school. This includes paediatric first-aid training and appropriate safeguarding training.  Appropriate checks on all staff have been carried out, including checks to ensure that staff are not prohibited from teaching.  Policies and procedures apply equally to the early years as they do to the rest of the school.  The new fire-risk assessment covers the whole school. Specific risk assessments are now in place, covering aspects such as the outside learning environment, for instance.  Children are no longer at risk from dangerous substances or materials, because staff are more aware of potential hazards.  Because leaders have successfully addressed the shortcomings identified at the last standard inspection, the school now meets the statutory requirements of the early years foundation stage.

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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.

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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.  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 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 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.  18(3) The checks referred to in sub-paragraphs (2)(c) and (except where sub-paragraph (4) applies) (2)(e) must be completed before a person’s appointment.  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,

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

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; – 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.

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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.

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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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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £1,040 to £1,150 per term

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School details

Email address office@chartfieldschool.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 26–28 June 2018

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Information about this school

 Chartfield School was last inspected in June 2018, when the overall effectiveness of the school was judged to be inadequate and unmet independent school standards were found.  The school’s ethos is ‘every child matters’, where ‘no child is left behind’. It serves a largely coastal community, with the vast majority of pupils living in the locality. The school is registered for up to 84 pupils in the age range three to 11.  Since the last standard inspection, the school has appointed a business manager.

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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.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the previous standard inspection in June 2018. As a monitoring inspection, this inspection was carried out without notice.  The school’s action plan to address the unmet independent school standards identified at the last standard inspection was rejected by the Department for Education in April 2019.  During this inspection, the inspector carried out a range of activities within the school. These included brief classroom visits to assess the quality of pupils’ work and to talk to them about their learning. The inspector also viewed different parts of the school’s

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Information about this inspection

premises, including communal areas, storage spaces, stairways and passageways.  Meetings were held with school leaders, including the headteacher, business manager, and the proprietor. The inspector also met with teaching and support staff, as well as a representative group of pupils.  A wide range of documentation was scrutinised, including the school’s safeguarding and other associated policies. The single central record of staff checks was also scrutinised, as well as staff training records, risk assessments and other records regarding leaders’ work to address unmet standards identified at the last standard inspection.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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

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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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/ofsted .

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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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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