The Sallygate School

School material change inspection report

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Sallygate School Buckland House, Crabble Hill, Dover, Kent CT17 0RX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  The proprietor has ensured that the arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils are strong. Procedures to recruit new staff include the appropriate pre-employment checks. The school’s safeguarding policy, which is published on the school’s website, is compliant with current guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  Staff have undertaken appropriate safeguarding training. This includes members of staff with enhanced responsibilities such as the designated safeguarding lead and his deputy.  Staff know what to do if they have concerns. Daily meetings enable them to be updated at the earliest opportunity if there are concerns about any aspect of pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  The culture to keep pupils safe is strong. Staff know about the potential dangers that pupils face, both in and out of school. They talked confidently to the inspector about

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Main inspection findings

the particular context of the school and about the specific risks pupils might face.  Safeguarding is effective because the proprietor and school leaders consider this their number one priority. Paragraph 11 and 12  Ensuring the health and safety of pupils and staff and compliance with fire regulations have both been given a high priority by leaders. The new school site has been chosen with careful consideration. Company directors have been mindful that the new building should provide a safe and welcoming environment for pupils.  Leaders intend to follow current practice if the proposed change of site is approved. They have already considered day-to-day routines such as how pupils are dropped off or collected after school. Access arrangements to the school building itself have also been carefully considered. It is intended that all relevant checks on alarm systems, electrical equipment and the storage of cleaning materials will continue to be dealt

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Main inspection findings

with in an appropriate manner.  Leaders have already obtained an independent pre-occupation fire risk assessment for the proposed new school. At the time of this inspection, remedial work to address the findings of this initial assessment was under way. Leaders understand that this work needs to be completed fully before pupils and staff can use the building. Paragraph 14  The school currently has 25 pupils on roll. Pupils are closely supervised at all times. Staff to pupil ratios are appropriate.  Leaders are mindful of the complex needs of pupils who attend the school. They know that increasing the number of pupils in the school needs to be carefully managed.  Although leaders have asked for the registration to be extended to up to 80 pupils, any increase in pupil numbers will be managed sensibly and over time, with an appropriate increase in teaching and support staff to ensure that pupils are supervised

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Main inspection findings

properly at all times. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The proprietor and school leaders have ensured that the school has a risk assessment policy which is implemented effectively. Some risk assessments for the proposed new school site are already in place. An independent specialist consultant has visited the proposed site to advise leaders on the potential risks associated with different aspects of buildings and grounds. Leaders intend to complete all outstanding risk assessments once the refurbishment programme to the building has been completed.  School leaders have ensured that all relevant standards in Part 3 are likely to be met if the proposed changes are approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18, 19, 20 and 21  The proprietor employs a central team to support school leaders to undertake pre- employment checks. Checks are thorough. Key members of staff have undertaken

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Main inspection findings

safer recruitment training. If the material change is approved, systems and procedures for the recruitment of new staff and checks on adults will continue to be fit for purpose.  The suitability of all persons appointed as existing members of staff at the school has been thoroughly checked in accordance with current guidelines.  At the time of this inspection, all appropriate checks had been carried out on members of the proprietor body.  The school does not use supply staff.  School leaders have ensured that all relevant standards in Part 4 are likely to be met if the proposed changes are approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(1)(c), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)  The proposed new school building is situated a short distance from the present school. The proposed school will occupy one of a number of buildings on the site of a former manor house. The site has extensive grounds, including a former chapel.  The proposed school building is presently being refurbished. While some rooms appear to be ready, many are not. The fire alarm system is not yet complete. At the time of the inspection, electrical wiring was still exposed, and tradesmen were still present. Leaders estimate that the building will be ready within a number of weeks.  At the time of the inspection, it was not possible to say that Part 5 is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

However, if the refurbishment is completed to the specifications that leaders intend, the refurbished building will readily meet the requirements if the school’s capacity is raised from 45 to 80.  At the time of the inspection, school leaders had not ensured that all relevant standards in Part 5 are likely to be met if the proposed changes are approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  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 if the material change was approved. Explicitly, the inspector was unable to judge that the school was likely to meet Part 5 based on the evidence seen on the day of the inspection, because the school is not yet ready for pupils.  When the refurbishment programme is completed, the new accommodation is likely to

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Main inspection findings

provide well for the increase in numbers of pupils that the proprietor proposes. Assuming the building eventually meets the requirements of Part 5, and new staff are appointed, the proposal to increase the number of pupils on roll to up to 80 is acceptable. This includes when pupils’ complex additional needs are taken into account.  Leaders are aware of their duty to actively promote the well-being of all pupils.  Because not all of the independent school standards were likely to be met at the time of the inspection, this part cannot be deemed likely to be met.

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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 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

Website http://www.channelsandchoices.co.uk/

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School details

Email address Sallygate@channelsandchoices.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5–7 December 2017

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 17 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 25 Up to 80 Up to 80

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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 Up to 45 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Up to 45 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Up to 45 Up to 80

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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 Up to 45 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 8 12

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Information about this school

 Sallygate School is a day special school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Most pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan.  The school’s last standard inspection took place in December 2017 when the overall effectiveness was judged to be good and all the independent school standards were found to be met.  Since the last inspection, the headteacher has become the proprietor’s director of education and the deputy headteacher has become the headteacher.  The school does not use alternative provisions.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education because the proprietor had applied to make changes to the school’s registration. The proprietor wants to move the school to a new site. The proprietor also wishes to increase the number of pupils on roll from up to 45 to up to 80.  This was the second material change inspection since the school was opened.  The inspector conducted the inspection against the requirements set out by the Department for Education in the inspection commissioning form.  The inspector visited the site and toured the premises of the proposed new school building.  The inspector visited lessons in the current school, talking to pupils about their work. The inspector also observed pupils as they moved around the school and at lunchtime.  Meetings were held with: the headteacher; the director of education; a company director who represented the proprietor; a group of teaching and support staff and a

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Information about this inspection

representative group of pupils.  The inspector reviewed a range of policies, records and documentation in relation to the specific independent school standards that were within the scope of this inspection. This included checking the single central record and the safeguarding policy.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 23(1)(a) suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 23(1)(b) separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over are provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time; and

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).

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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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 26 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the acoustic conditions and sound insulation of each room or other space are suitable, having regard to the nature of the activities which normally take place therein.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 27 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 27(a) the lighting in each room or other internal space is suitable, having regard to the nature of the activities which normally take place therein; and

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(a) suitable drinking water facilities are provided

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water – 28(1)(c) cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking are clearly marked as such; and

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 28(2) The facilities provided under sub-paragraph (1)(a) will be suitable only if–

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(2)(a) they are readily accessible at all times when the premises are in use; and

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

– 28(2)(b) they are in a separate area from the toilet facilities.

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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–

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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;

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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

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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 .

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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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