Wolfdale School

School material change inspection report

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Wolfdale School based at Anstey Nomads Football Club, Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester, Leicestershire LE7 7BP

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding and child protection policy is available to download from the school website. Any safeguarding concerns reported by staff about a pupil or family are dealt with appropriately by the safeguarding leaders.  The school’s safeguarding and child protection policy makes reference to out-of-date statutory government guidance. Staff, parents and carers do not, therefore, have the latest information regarding keeping children safe. For example, the policy does not contain references to serious violence and upskirting or to the reasonable adjustments required for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  Not all staff have received relevant safeguarding training. For example, some staff are unclear what action to take should there be an allegation of peer-on-peer abuse and cannot explain how to spot the signs of county lines drug trafficking.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 11  The school’s health and safety policy is out of date and not fit for purpose. It is unclear when the most recent health and safety audit was undertaken and, therefore, what recent actions have been taken to ensure that pupils are kept safe. Paragraph 12  The proprietor has not ensured compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  The fire-risk assessment policy is out of date and fire-evacuation practices are not undertaken frequently enough. Some members of staff told inspectors they had not experienced an evacuation practice at all. Procedures for signing pupils off site are not robust. The fire marshal would not be aware of the number of pupils to account for, should the need for an evacuation arise. Paragraph 9, (9a), (9b), (9c)  There is a written behaviour policy that sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupils’ misbehaviour. The policy is implemented effectively. Records are kept

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Main inspection findings

of these sanctions and they are analysed carefully to prevent further incidents. Paragraph 10  The proprietor has ensured that bullying is prevented in so far as is practical, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying policy. The policy rightly considers the vulnerable nature of pupils with SEND. Paragraph 13  The proprietor has ensured that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner. The first-aid policy is appropriate and implemented effectively. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The proprietor has ensured that there is an appropriate and effective implementation of the school’s risk assessment policy. The policy ensures, for example, that pupils’ welfare is safeguarded when undertaking off-site visits.  The school’s leaders have not ensured that standards are likely to be met in this part if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve the implementation of the

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Main inspection findings

material change. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c), 32(3)(d)  The proprietor has not ensured that the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy has regard to the most recent guidance issued by the secretary of state. The proprietor has not ensured that the school’s health and safety policy is appropriate and up to date. Paragraph 32(1)(a), 32(1)(b), 32(1)(d), 32(1)(f), 32(1)(g), 32(1)(h), 32(1)(i), 32(1)(j), 32(2), 32(2)(a), 32(2)(b), 32(2)(b)(i), 32(2)(d), 32(3), 32(3)(a), 32(3)(b), 32(3)(c), 32(3)(e), 32(3)(f)  The proprietor has ensured that the relevant standards relating to the provision of information have been met. For example, the required information regarding the proprietor’s name, address for correspondence and telephone number are included on the school website. Previous inspection reports are available on the school website for parents to download.  The school’s leaders have not ensured that standards are likely to be met in this part

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Main inspection findings

if the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33, 33(f), 33(g), 33(h), 33(i), 33(i)(i), 33(i)(ii), 33(j)(i)  The proprietor has not ensured that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents and pupils. For example, the procedure does not include the provision of a panel, consisting of at least three people, one of which is independent in the management/running of the school. The procedure does not allow for a parent to attend and be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish. Paragraph 33(a), 33(b), 33(c), 33(d), 33(e), 33(j), 33(j)(ii), 33(k)  The proprietor has ensured that the complaints policy is made available to parents. The proprietor has also ensured that complaints can be initially considered on an informal basis and that timescales for responding to complaints are clear. The

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Main inspection findings

proprietor knows that written records of any such complaints should be kept, regardless of whether they are upheld. There were no parental complaints during the previous academic year.  The school’s leaders have not ensured that standards are likely to be met in this part if the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has not ensured that the persons with leadership responsibilities at the school demonstrate good knowledge and skills to ensure that the independent school standards are consistently met.  The well-being of pupils is not actively promoted because key policies are referencing out-of-date statutory safeguarding guidance and fire safety procedures are not robust.  The school’s leaders have not ensured that standards are likely to be met in this part

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Main inspection findings

if the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change.

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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 that are relevant to the material change, as set out in the annex of this report.

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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 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

Annual fees (day pupils) £42,500–£64,000

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School details

Email address office@wolfdaleschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–14 September 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 17 7 to 17 7 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 40 70 35

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recommendation

Reason for inspectors’ recommendations. The school is currently registered with the Department for Education to have 35 pupils on the school roll and currently there are 40 pupils on roll. The proposed material change increase of 30 pupils consists of 20 pupils at an additional new premises situated at 67, Leicester Road, Anstey LE7 7AT. The further 10 pupils were planned for the existing school premises based at Anstey Nomads Football Club, Cropston Road, Leicester. The premises on Leicester Road are still occupied. Leaders did not provide inspectors with robust plans detailing how the property would be suitably renovated into a school. Leaders did not provide inspectors with robust plans detailing how the increase in the number of pupils would be adequately and appropriately staffed. Inspectors found a number of independent school standards were unmet at the Anstey Nomads site. Consequently, inspectors were not confident that if the material change

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recommendation

were to go ahead the school would consistently meet the independent school standards in the future.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 37 67

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 40 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 40 70

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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 40 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 6 9

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 3 3 Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 Wolfdale School is an independent school situated in the village of Anstey, Leicestershire. The school uses another site at Victoria Road, Leicester and a small number of pupils are educated at their homes. Teachers visit these pupils on a weekly basis.  The school offers education to pupils with autistic spectrum disorder, and additional forms of learning and communication difficulties. All pupils have an education, health and care plan and are funded through various local authorities.  Wolfdale School aims to provide pupils with ‘a bespoke education with maximum achievement’.  The school uses two alternative providers. These are an outdoor school based in Ratby Woods, Leicester and New Park Leisure Centre, St Oswalds Road, Leicester.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, to check the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the school’s application to make material changes to its provision. The proposed changes were to increase the school’s capacity from 40 to 70 pupils and to introduce new premises for 20 of these pupils. The other 10 pupils were to be accommodated at the existing school site, based at Anstey Nomads football ground.  Independent school standards 7, 7(a), 7(b), 12, 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c) were not part of the commissioned inspection; however, they were found to be unmet during the course of the inspection.  No visits were made by inspectors to the Victoria Road site. This was because the material change did not relate to this aspect of the school’s provision.  Inspectors held various meetings with the headteacher, proprietor, inclusion manager

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Information about this inspection

and eight members of staff. Inspectors scrutinised a wide range of documents, including those relating to health and safety, risk assessment and safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Peter Stonier, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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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[12].

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(c) particulars of the arrangements for meeting the standard contained in paragraph 7 are published on the school’s internet website or, where no such website exists, are provided to parents on request – 32 (3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is– – 32(3)(d) particulars of arrangements for meeting the standards contained in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 13.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils and which– – 33(f) where the parent is not satisfied with the response to the complaint made in accordance with sub-paragraph (e), makes provision for a hearing before a panel appointed by or on behalf of the proprietor and consisting of at least three people who were not directly involved in the matters detailed in the complaint – 33(g) ensures that, where there is a panel hearing of a complaint, one panel member is independent of the management and running of the school – 33(h) allows for a parent to attend and be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish – 33(i) provides for the panel to make findings and recommendations and stipulates that a copy of those findings and recommendations is–

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

– 33(i)(i) provided to the complainant and, where relevant, the person complained about; and – 33(i)(ii) available for inspection on the school premises by the proprietor and the head teacher – 33(j)(i) whether they are resolved following a formal procedure, or proceed to a panel hearing.

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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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