Brook View School

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(c) ◼ The procedures in place to safeguard pupils are effective. The school makes a clear safeguarding policy available to parents and carers through its website. Leaders make sure that the policy is line with the latest guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Leaders have developed a range of other policies to determine the safeguarding work of the school. These include procedures to prevent pupils being exposed to radicalised views and how staff support pupils who have a medical condition. ◼ The headteacher is the designated leader for safeguarding and takes her role and responsibilities seriously. She keeps herself well informed of national and local issues about child protection. The headteacher makes certain that the deputy leaders for safeguarding have the right training for their role. ◼ The headteacher and the leaders for safeguarding keep staff informed of the latest

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Main inspection findings

statutory guidance on the protection and care of pupils. They check carefully that staff understand their duties. For example, leaders describe a hypothetical safeguarding situation to staff and discuss their response. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep pupils safe. For example, they know what type of behaviour colleagues should and should not show towards pupils. ◼ Leaders and staff fully understand the importance of recording their concerns carefully and acting quickly to ensure pupils’ continued safety. They make sure that any use of physical intervention to keep pupils safe is recorded thoroughly and reviewed by leaders. ◼ Leaders ensure that the school’s work is checked annually by a safeguarding expert from outside the school. Leaders act on any points raised to strengthen their work and that of staff. ◼ Recently, leaders responded to a potential safeguarding incident without delay and

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Main inspection findings

made sure all pupils and others did not come to any harm. They subsequently made certain that school procedures were reviewed and improved quickly and fully. Leaders improved the supervision of pupils, and the storage of sharp objects and medicines. Pupils continue to be safe at the school. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b) ◼ The school has an effective risk assessment policy. This document includes clear information about the responsibilities of leaders, governors and staff to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that pupils are safe. ◼ Staff act to reduce risks to pupils and adults at the school. Risk assessments focused on the needs of individual pupils are comprehensive and help to pinpoint the specific individual help that pupils need. ◼ The standards checked in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34, 34(a), 34(b), 34(c), 34(2) ◼ Leaders have good skills and knowledge about safeguarding. Leaders and governors ensure that strong procedures are in place to protect pupils and staff. Staff follow safeguarding policies and procedures and understand the importance of being vigilant about pupils’ safety and well-being. ◼ Leaders and governors make sure that they review the work of the school carefully. They hold an accurate understanding of what aspects of the school’s work are successful and where practice could be even better. They improve policy and practice when needed. ◼ Leaders make sure that staff help pupils to relate well to others and understand how to communicate their needs and feelings. Pupils at the school feel safe, secure and that staff look after them well. ◼ The standard relating to the quality of leadership and management of the school is

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £50,000 to £70,000

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School details

Website http://mountwoodacademy.lancs.sch.uk

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School details

Email address Emily.haddock@mountwoodacademy.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19–21 March 2019

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Information about this school

◼ Mountwood Academy is an independent special school. The school is located on the outskirts of Preston. The school caters for young people with autism spectrum disorder. They are all placed in the school and funded by different local authorities from across England and Scotland. ◼ The executive headteacher is also the headteacher of Linton Special School, which is based in Ribchester near Preston. ◼ Mountwood provides ‘… a spacious, calm and safe environment in which young people can thrive and learn … facilities fully support our creative learning curriculum and a “Total Communication” approach to education for children who do not use much, if any, spoken language.’ ◼ All pupils have an education, health and care plan. The school does not currently make use of any alternative provision. Mountwood works closely with its sister school, where pupils engage in farm and forest school activities and horse riding.

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Information about this school

◼ The most recent standard inspection of the school took place on 19–21 March 2019.

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Information about this inspection

◼ The inspection was commissioned by the registration authority because of information received with regards to safeguarding and risk assessment. ◼ The inspection focused on policy and practice for safeguarding, risk assessment and leadership and management. ◼ The inspection was conducted without notice. ◼ The inspector examined the content of the school’s website. ◼ The inspector toured the school with one of the assistant headteachers. ◼ The inspector checked a sample of school policies and documents relating to safeguarding and risk assessment. ◼ The inspector held meetings with the headteacher and with three staff to discuss safeguarding and risk assessment. ◼ The inspector, accompanied by the headteacher, checked the arrangements for the storage of medicines and sharp objects and spoke with the school nurse. ◼ The inspector spoke with the chair of governors by telephone about the safeguarding work of the school.

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Information about this inspection

◼ The inspector spoke with some pupils about their views of their education, including safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Tim Vaughan, lead inspector Her Majesty’s 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.

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Inspection team

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/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.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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