Medway Green School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Medway Green School School Lane, Wouldham, Rochester ME1 3TS

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 1, 2  The original application was for pupils in the age range five to 14. At the time of the pre-registration inspection, representatives of the proprietor indicated that they were seeking registration for 32 pupils in the age range five to 11 and that a material change application will be submitted in the future to extend the age range. Consequently, Her Majesty’s Inspector completed the inspection of Part 1 and all subsequent aspects of the independent school standards on this basis.  The curriculum will be delivered in line with the curriculum policy submitted with the registration application, which is based on the national curriculum. However, because of the complex needs of pupils attending the proposed school, the curriculum will be bespoke and tailored to individual pupils’ needs.  Class sizes will be small. Pupils will follow bespoke pathways to ensure that the

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Main inspection findings

curriculum supports both their academic and social and emotional development equally well.  Written subject policies, schemes and plans provide a clear insight into the way the curriculum will be taught. They take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of the pupils, all of whom will have education, health and care plans.  There is appropriate provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). This includes activities that encourage tolerance and respect for other people and aims to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain. Paragraph 3, 4  The school’s assessment procedures set out carefully how teachers will assess pupils’ learning. Suitable baseline checks of pupils’ academic ability will be carried out on entry.  Systems to gather information about pupils’ academic, social and emotional development will be comprehensive. Staff will use a bespoke system to assess pupils’ progress. This system is already used in the proprietor’s other schools. School leaders

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Main inspection findings

will use this information to check pupils’ outcomes closely over time.  Assessment information will be used to provide parents, carers and/or local authorities with regular updates on the progress of pupils.  It is intended that pupils will gain new knowledge and make progress according to their abilities and their individual complex needs. Leaders regard the development of pupils’ life skills as an important aspect of the education the school provides.  Expectations of behaviour will be high. All staff will undertake training to ensure that there is a common approach to managing the complex behaviour that pupils are likely to present.  School leaders and the proprietor have a clear vision of the values that underpin the school’s culture. They will ensure that discrimination of any kind is not tolerated and that fundamental British values are promoted. Equalities will be actively promoted through the wider curriculum.

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Main inspection findings

 The school is likely to meet all the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The headteacher and other leaders articulate a clear sense of the ethos of the school. They have a clear vision for what the school will provide for its pupils. In achieving this, leaders state that developing pupils’ social and emotional well-being will be given a high priority.  Leaders and staff will promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development effectively through the taught curriculum and through establishing a culture of tolerance and respect between staff and pupils alike.  Curriculum plans ensure that pupils will learn about British values, as well as actively promoting the development of pupils’ self-esteem and sense of self-worth. The school’s PSHE curriculum is comprehensive and will cover aspects such as friendships,

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Main inspection findings

relationships and feeling safe.  Leaders have set high expectations of themselves and staff. These include ensuring that pupils are not exposed to partisan political or religious opinions.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 6, 7  The school’s policies, written guidance and proposed procedures to ensure the welfare, health and safety of pupils are sound. Key staff have already undertaken safeguarding training appropriate to their levels of responsibility. This includes safer recruitment training for leaders and managers who are responsible for employing staff.  Induction training for new staff is comprehensive. This covers safeguarding training, and training to ensure that staff are aware of the school’s wider policies and procedures to keep children safe.  The safeguarding policy is not yet available on the school’s website because the

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Main inspection findings

website is not yet ‘live’. However, the safeguarding policy does meet current requirements. Paragraph 9, 10  The behaviour policy is suitable for the ages and the needs of the school’s pupils. The school also has an anti-bullying policy which has close links to the behaviour policy. The behaviour policy sets out clear aims and lists the consequences of poor behaviour. Leaders will keep records of sanctions imposed for serious misbehaviour. Paragraph 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16  Leaders have set out a clear policy to follow relevant health and safety legislation. The proprietor has established a cycle of regular checks for all aspects of safety at appropriate intervals. This includes the testing of electrical equipment and annual fire risk assessment reviews.  Most of the necessary checks of facilities and equipment, and procedures for fire safety are already in place. However, at the time of the inspection, the fire alarm

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Main inspection findings

system was still being refurbished and was not operational.  The first aid policy is suitable and makes provision for effective first aid. Key staff will be trained at an appropriate level to administer first aid prior to the proposed school opening.  The admissions and attendance registers are electronic and will contain all of the information required. Because the school is not yet open, pupils have not yet been accepted onto the school roll.  Plans for the effective supervision of pupils are in place. Careful thought has been given to how the layout of the site will impact on the ability of staff to supervise pupils at all times. This includes in classrooms and during semi-unstructured times, such as break and lunchtime.  The school’s risk assessment policy states clearly how risks are to be managed. A range of risk assessments is already in place. Others will follow prior to the proposed school opening. These include those for the premises, use of resources and

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Main inspection findings

equipment, and off-site visits. Risk assessments will include appropriate actions to reduce risk.  Despite meeting most of the requirements for Part 3, this part cannot be met until the school has a fully functioning fire alarm system (paragraph 12). Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21  Leaders know about the checks that need to be made on adults working with children in regulated activities. These include all the required verifications such as medical fitness and qualification checks.  The single central record of staff checks is already established, is sound, and is administered competently. Recruitment procedures are managed well. Those responsible for recruiting staff are knowledgeable and understand the requirements to check the background of applicants thoroughly.  Suitable checks have been carried out on the proprietor and directors.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent

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Main inspection findings

school standards. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31  At the time of the inspection, the school’s fire alarm system was still being refurbished and was not operational. Although leaders are confident that this work will be finished quickly, it was not possible for Her Majesty’s Inspector to consider that Part 5 was fully met at the time of the site visit.  The proposed school will occupy the former site of Wouldham All Saints Church of England Primary School and is split into two parts. In the first instance, pupils in the age range five to 11 will utilise what was formerly the ‘junior’ phase of the site. This includes offices, a medical room, appropriate toilet facilities, kitchen, four classrooms and a range of communal and storage areas.  The school has suitable grounds which are appropriate for pupils to play outside, as well as for physical education.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has undergone extensive refurbishment and decoration in the last year. Lighting (internal and external), heating and acoustics in rooms and internal spaces are all suitable.  Toilet and washing facilities are suitable for the age range five to 11. A dedicated medical room is well equipped. Suitable drinking water is available and labelled as such.  At the time of the inspection, the school is unlikely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards because the fire alarm system is not yet ready. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32  At the time of the inspection, the school did not have its own ‘live’ website. However, leaders are aware of the requirement to provide specified information and were able to provide all relevant documents required by Part 6. This includes when pupils are funded or partly funded by a local authority.  Leaders also know that they need to publish certain reports and other information as

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Main inspection findings

necessary on their website once it is ready, particularly information required by parents or carers.  Leaders plan to provide regular written reports to parents or carers.  The website will include all of the required information such as policies, contact details and information about the school’s education provision. This includes the school’s safeguarding policy, which follows current guidance.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33  The complaints policy and procedures are available on request. They set out clear timescales for the management of a complaint. There is provision for formal complaints to be heard by a panel of at least three people who have not been directly involved in the complaint.  The policy rightly stipulates that one of the members of the panel must be

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Main inspection findings

independent of the management and running of the school. It also states that complainants have the right to be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish. The policy makes clear that any findings of a panel must be available to a complainant, and, where relevant, the person complained about.  Leaders plan to keep any copies of complaints confidentially and available for inspection on the school premises.  The school is likely to meet all of the requirements in this part of the independent school standards. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Despite leaders demonstrating a good understanding of the requirements within the independent school standards, they have not ensured that the school is likely to meet all of these standards. Explicitly, Part 5 is unlikely to be met, based on the evidence seen on the day of the inspection, because the school’s fire alarm system is not yet

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Main inspection findings

ready. Also, paragraph 12 of Part 3 cannot be met without a serviceable fire alarm system being in operation.  Leaders are aware of their duty to promote actively the well-being of all pupils.  Because not all of the independent school standards are likely to be met, this part cannot be deemed likely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have a suitable accessibility plan to improve access to the premises. They intend to update the plan at appropriate intervals. The school is likely to meet paragraph 3 of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely to meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements, as set out in the annex of this report.

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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

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Proprietor Acorn Care and Education Limited

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Proposed school details

Annual fees (day pupils) £43,419 to £76,163

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 5 to 14 years 5 to 11 years Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable Up to 56 Up to 32

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recommendation

 The original written application was for 56 pupils in the age range five to 14. Because facilities are not yet ready for older pupils, and at the request of representatives of the proprietor, Her Majesty’s Inspector considered the application for the age range five to 11.  Representatives of the proprietor indicated that a material change would be requested to increase the age range and numbers of pupils when phase two of the school’s refurbishment is complete.

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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 Up to 32

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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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 32

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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 32

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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 32

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 10

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Information about this proposed school

 The proposed school will be located in a small village on the banks of the river Medway in Kent. The school site was formerly occupied by Wouldham All Saints Church of England Primary School, which moved to a new site in 2018.  The proprietor originally applied for a registration for up to 56 pupils in the age range five to 14 with an intention of refurbishing the school in two phases. Phase one is now complete and will cater for up to 32 pupils in the age range five to 11. Phase two is not yet complete. The proprietors intend to submit a material change request when it is.  The proposed school will offer provision for up to 32 pupils aged five to 11 years who have social, emotional and mental health needs and associated conditions.  All pupils will be placed by local authorities and will have education, health and care plans.  Most of the policies, procedures and systems will be based on those already used in

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Information about this proposed school

the proprietor’s other provisions.  The proposed school will be governed by its own governing board. The chair of the governing board is already in place and is a member of the proprietor’s board of directors.  It is not proposed that the school will use alternative provisions in the first instance.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first pre-registration inspection of the proposed school. The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the proposed school is likely to meet the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014. Schools must comply with the independent school standards to be registered.  The inspection focused on compliance with the regulatory requirements of the independent school standards, safeguarding procedures and Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.  The inspector toured the school’s premises and grounds. He reviewed a wide range of documentation, including the single central record, safeguarding information, policies, and curriculum and assessment information.  The inspector held a range of meetings with the headteacher and other leaders, including representatives of the proprietor.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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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. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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