Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School

School material change inspection report

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Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic School Eton Dorney Centre, Lake End Road, Dorney SL4 6QS

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  Leaders have taken into account the latest government advice and guidance on keeping children safe. The safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website.  Staff receive regular training about safeguarding matters.  Safeguarding records are kept in good order. Paragraph 11  School leaders have established a coherent health and safety policy. Systems to make sure that pupils are kept safe are established and effective. Paragraph 12  The school has clear signage to explain procedures in the event of a fire. Rehearsals for fire evacuation are carried out regularly. The fire exits are unobstructed. School leaders carry out regular scrutiny of fire equipment and emergency lighting. Records of fire-safety checks are kept diligently in a fire logbook.  School leaders use external fire consultants to carry out a regular fire risk assessment

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Main inspection findings

on school buildings. Recommendations from the most recent visit have been put into place. Advice has been provided to school leaders about the location of fire exits and extinguishers in the new building. The school has yet to undertake a fire risk assessment of the additional building, because it is in the final stages of construction. This check is due imminently. Paragraph 14  School leaders intend to increase the numbers of teaching staff as the school roll increases. Leaders plan to take on pupils over a long period of time. This is so that they can manage pupils’ induction carefully. The extra pupils will be added to existing classes. Class sizes will be kept to about six pupils to ensure that the additional pupils are supervised well and kept safe. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  Risk assessment procedures are explained well in a clear risk assessment policy that is published on the school website. Staff consider carefully the risks for each pupil,

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Main inspection findings

especially any hazard associated with educational trips and activities. Controls are put in place to reduce the chance of an accident.  The school buildings and grounds have been assessed carefully for potential risks. The new building has been developed with pupils’ safety and well-being in mind.  All the requirements that were checked are likely to continue to be met, if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21  School leaders carry out all the required pre-employment checks on prospective staff. Staff files show evidence of checks that have been made.  The checks are also recorded in electronic form in the single central record, so that the proprietor and governors can make sure, when not present in the school, that leaders have carried out statutory checks of suitability of adults at the school.

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Main inspection findings

 The school does not use supply staff.  All the requirements that were checked are likely to continue to be met, if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31  The main school is situated in a converted building. The ground floor, where the school is located, is decorated to a high standard. It provides three classroom spaces with ample room for up to eight pupils in each. Additional spaces for pupils include a therapy room and kitchen area.  The additional building, currently nearing the end of construction, is adjacent to the main school. It is a timber-clad design, with appropriate light and sound insulation. It provides an additional three classrooms, all of a suitable size for about six pupils. The headteacher plans to use this additional area for key stage 2 pupils.  The toilet facilities are located in the main building. These include washing facilities.

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Main inspection findings

All have water at a suitable temperature. These are sufficient in number to accommodate an extra ten pupils.  The school complies with all aspects of premises requirements, such as providing a medical room with hot and cold water and a bed. Suitable drinking-water sources are provided.  The grounds around the school are maintained well. There is a sports field, so that pupils have opportunity to play games, although physical education also takes place at a local sports centre. There is a forest school area, a school allotment and a piece of land where chickens are kept. There is also space for an environmental area. The outside space provides ample opportunity for pupils to learn and play.  Once the building work is completed, all the requirements are likely to continue to be met, if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c) and 34(2)  The proprietor has ensured that the leaders of the school have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of pupils well. Leaders have made sure that the school is compliant with the independent school standards relevant to the proposed material change.  The local governing body has carried out a skills audit and is in the process of strengthening governance. The governing body has put procedures in place to support and challenge the headteacher. The headteacher provides helpful reports to enable governors to find out about the well-being and progress of pupils. Governors also visit the school to see for themselves. They acknowledge the need for further training to ensure that they are effective in their role.  The proprietor, governors and headteacher have considered carefully the implications of increasing the size of their school. They have produced fully costed plans and

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Main inspection findings

discussed ways to eliminate possible pitfalls. They want to ensure that they are an inclusive, safe school and can continue to provide well for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  The headteacher has developed links with the local authority, a leadership consultant and local headteachers. Through collaboration with others, leaders aim to gain an external validation of their work and share ideas.  All the requirements are likely to continue to be met, if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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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 etondorneyschool@csfc.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 6–8 November 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 18 not applicable not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 24 34 34

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 24 34

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 24 34

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 24 34

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 24 34

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 14 21

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3 3

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Information about this school

 The school was registered by the DfE in December 2017. The school accepted its first pupils in March 2018. The current headteacher was appointed in May 2018.  The school is set in a sixteenth-century grade 2 listed building. It is situated on the edge of the village of Dorney, close to Windsor in Berkshire.  Pupils at the school all have social, emotional and mental health special educational needs and/or disabilities. Some of the pupils also have autism spectrum disorder. Nearly all of the pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The proprietor is Calcot Services for Children, which also runs six children’s homes across Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Hampshire. Eton Dorney is the only school belonging to the proprietor.  About half of the pupils are looked after by a local authority.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This first material change inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE. The proprietor has applied to increase the number of pupils on roll from 24 to 34.  Meetings were held with the headteacher and a leadership consultant who was delivering training to staff on the day of the inspection.  The inspector held a telephone conversation with the chair of the governing body, who acted as a representative of the proprietor.  The inspector looked at a range of policies and documents connected with health and safety, safeguarding pupils and governance.  The inspector toured the premises, including the additional building that is under construction.  The school’s website was viewed.

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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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