Gretton School

Residential progress monitoring inspection report Gretton School 16 October 2019 Manor Farm Road, Girton, Cambridge CB3 0RX

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Main inspection findings

The overall experiences and progress of children

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Main inspection findings

 On 5 February 2019, Ofsted undertook a full inspection of this school. At that inspection, the school was judged as good overall. However, two national minimum standards were unmet.  This progress monitoring visit was undertaken to monitor whether the school’s action plan had been implemented and to identify whether the school is now meeting the previously unmet national minimum standards.  This visit found that both national minimum standards are now met.  At the full inspection on 5 February 2019, national minimum standard 6.3 was unmet because the system for recording safeguarding concerns did not provide a clear overview of safeguarding concerns that relate to the residential provision. It was therefore difficult to ascertain the number of issues since the last inspection. Although allegations and concerns were managed effectively, the outcome of actions was not always clearly recorded. This made it difficult to see what the risks were to

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Main inspection findings

children and how they were being managed in the residential provision. In addition, some risk assessments were not dated and did not demonstrate how risks have reduced or increased over time.  This progress monitoring visit found that the school has introduced a new, significantly improved system to manage safeguarding concerns. Records are clear, provide an audit trail for monitoring and have the potential to result in further improvements. The system is new and there are some teething problems as implementation occurs. These issues are being monitored by designated staff. Designated safeguarding staff have received training from the system provider. All staff have had training provided on development days.  The new system shows that all residential staff have read the update to ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and all staff have received a copy of the updated safeguarding policy.  The actions taken mean that national minimum standard 6.3 is now met.

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Main inspection findings

 At the full inspection on 5 February 2019, national minimum standard 22.1 was unmet because staff did not clearly record children’s progress. Several documents were undated and some were missing information. There was little information to provide reliable evidence of the impact that staying in the residential provision had on children’s academic progress. This had been identified by the principal and the head of care as an area that needed to improve.  This progress monitoring visit found that the management team has made progress in addressing the shortfall. A new approach to recording progress, linked to the children’s education, health and care plan outcomes, has been introduced. This is in its infancy. The head of care is considered and reflective in her approach, recognising that the system will need fine-tuning as it is implemented.  All records seen included the date of completion.  The actions taken mean that national minimum standard 22.1 is now met.

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special schools

 The school ensures that 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 appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. (NMS 6.3)  Every child has an accurate, permanent record of their history and progress which can be read by the child at any time (except where the data controller is not obliged to supply the information to the child), and add personal statements or statements correcting errors. (NMS 22.1)

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School details

Unique reference number 136047 Social care unique reference number SC425708 DfE registration number 873/6048 Inspection number 10123349 The inspection of residential provision was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for residential special schools. Type of school Residential special school School status Independent residential special school Age range of pupils 5–19 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 117 Number of boarders on roll 10 Principal Ian Thorsteinsson Head of residential provision Emma Nelson Telephone number 01223 277438 Website http://grettonschool.com/ Email address info@grettonschool.com Date of previous residential inspection 5 February 2019

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Information about this school

 Gretton school is a privately owned, independent residential special school for pupils aged between five and 19.  Located on the outskirts of Cambridge, the school specialises in teaching children and young people who have autism spectrum disorder conditions.  The residential accommodation is provided in three houses and one bungalow located on the school site.  The residential provision was last inspected in February 2019.

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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 national minimum standards that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.

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Inspection team

Ashley Hinson, lead inspector Social Care Regulatory 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. 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/government/organisations/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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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