Wilsic Hall School

Wilsic Hall School Wadworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 9AG

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), Part 6 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this inspection to consider several aspects of pupils’ welfare, health and safety, following complaints received. The following independent school standards are all related to aspects of pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  The school has a safeguarding policy which is made up of two documents. Both documents are available on the school website, so parents and carers can access them. The documents combined consider all the most recent government guidelines pertaining to safeguarding children.  A leaflet is available for all visitors to the school, staff, parents and carers so that they can clearly identify how and to whom they can report concerns. The leaflet shows photographs of the four trained designated safeguarding leads. It does not clearly note which person is the designated lead and who are the deputy designated leads.

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Main inspection findings

The link to this information from one of the safeguarding documents was also found not to be working. These minor issues were remedied during the inspection.  I spoke to over 20 staff during the inspection. They knew what sort of things would give them cause for concern regarding pupils’ welfare, for example unexplained bruising or changes in behaviour. They all said that they were certain any concerns would be taken seriously and recorded in detail by senior staff. Staff said that if they had any concerns about another member of staff they would not hesitate to report these concerns. Those staff who had done so in the past said issues had been taken seriously and been dealt with sensitively by senior staff.  These standards are still met. Paragraph 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c)  Senior leaders have written a behaviour policy which clearly states how to record minor and more serious incidents and how sanctions are not used to discipline pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 During the inspection I was able to study several incident forms. They comprehensively gave details of the incidents and actions taken.  The head of education is informed of all behaviour incidents. She monitors them carefully and with the headteacher informs directors on a regular basis.  During the inspection I found that pupils’ behaviour around the school was calm and managed extremely well by staff. Parents and social workers who were spoken to express no concerns about pupils’ behaviour or welfare. Parents said staff were very approachable, so they would not hesitate to speak to them if they had any concerns.  This standard is still met. Paragraph 11  Senior leaders have written a brief and succinct health and safety policy. The school is supported by members of the Hesley Group Ltd, central services, to ensure that aspects of health and safety are thorough. The policy is implemented appropriately.

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Main inspection findings

 This standard is still met. Paragraph 14  Pupils are well supervised, and supervision is sensitive to their needs. At times pupils struggle to communicate their needs in a suitable manner. I saw adults using different techniques to manage behaviour and supervise pupils. At times adults move away and give pupils more space, at other times I saw them use gentle touching to guide pupils. There are numerous adults available during the school day to support the managing of pupil behaviours.  This standard is still met. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Senior leaders have written a suitable risk assessment policy which is implemented effectively. Risk assessments are written to assess the risks involved in different activities, environments and with different pupils. Risk assessments are personalised so that they consider the risks individual pupils may find in activities or environments.  This standard is still met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18, 19, 20, 21  Senior leaders have ensured that recruitment checks are carried out and recorded correctly on the school’s single central record.  Senior leaders and managers ensure that recruitment procedures are thorough. All new staff follow a comprehensive three-week induction programme.  These standards are still met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 23(2)  The DfE asked me to consider aspects of the suitability of the premises in the school to determine if pupils’ welfare, health and safety are being compromised.  I visited all toilet and washing facilities that pupils use and found them all to be clean and tidy. Pupils have access to ample amounts of toilet paper, soap and paper towels.  There was some confusing signage which I discovered during the inspection. The signs suggested that contrary to the requirements of the independent school standard, staff and pupils could use the same toilet facilities. The head of education immediately changed the signs to make it clear that toilets are ‘provided for the sole use of pupils’.  This standard is still met. Paragraph 25  I found the school building and grounds to be well maintained. The school is a tidy

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Main inspection findings

environment where great care is taken to ensure that the environment supports the needs of pupils. For example, wide open outside areas with suitable climbing and play equipment are available and sensory and stimulating art work enhances the environment inside.  This standard is still met. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)  Pupils have access to water fountains around the school to ensure drinking water is readily available. Staff have taken appropriate steps to ensure that water is at a safe temperature and that non-drinking water is clearly labelled.  This standard is still met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The DfE commissioned the inspection to ensure that leaders and managers are consistently meeting the independent school standards, fulfilling their roles and responsibilities and actively promoting the well-being of pupils.  Senior leaders continue to ensure that the welfare, health and safety of pupils is paramount. They ensure that procedures to protect pupils are clear and known by staff. Staff who at the time of the inspection were in the final week of their induction programme were confident that they knew how to support pupils’ welfare.  Central services staff from the head office who have governance responsibilities are well informed of any behavioural or safeguarding concerns. Those with responsibilities such as fire safety are thorough and take their responsibilities seriously to keep pupils

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Main inspection findings

as safe as possible.  The head of education holds daily briefings so that aspects of pupil welfare are raised and dealt with immediately. She is held to account as she reports to the headteacher and to central services staff regularly.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 12

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School details

Email address enquiries@hesleygroup.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 11–13 December 2018

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Information about this school

 The school was previously inspected in December 2018 when its overall effectiveness was judged to be good and all the independent school standards were met.  Wilsic Hall School is an independent special school located near Doncaster. It can accept up to 36 pupils, aged 11 to 19 years. There are currently 32 pupils on roll.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan. All have significant learning and/or communication difficulties. Most pupils have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.  Education staff currently work with 26 different local authorities who place pupils at Wilsic Hall School.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was the school’s first inspection since its full standard inspection in December 2018, when the school was judged to be good.  This inspection was commissioned by the DfE following complaints made in relation to pupils’ welfare, health and safety. At the request of the DfE I considered several the independent school standards which all relate to pupils’ welfare and safety.  The inspection took place over one day and was conducted without notice.  I spent time with pupils inside and outside during the morning and during the afternoon.  I toured the premises both inside and outside at different times of the day.  I spoke to over 20 members of staff in groups and alone, all without the presence of a senior member of staff.  I considered a range of documents, all concerning the safeguarding of pupils.  I held telephone conversations with parents, social workers and the chief operating

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Information about this inspection

officer of Hesley Group Ltd.  I held meetings with the headteacher and the head of education.

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Inspection team

Jo Sharpe, 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

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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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