Aurora Redehall School

School material change inspection report

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Aurora Redehall School Redehall Road, Smallfield, Surrey RH6 9QA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor wishes to open an additional school site to accommodate extra pupils, increasing the school’s capacity.  A suitable safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website. The policy sets out clearly the school’s arrangements for protecting pupils. It makes plain who, within school, to go to with any concerns. Indicative of an open culture, the policy also helpfully and prominently identifies routes to raise serious concerns beyond the school. The policy is in line with guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  The headteacher is the designated safeguarding lead and there is a generous allocation of suitably trained leaders to deputise in his absence. Leaders have carefully considered the implications of having an additional site in terms of safeguarding processes. They propose to have a designated deputy at each address to provide

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Main inspection findings

close oversight of safeguarding arrangements and a consistent point of contact for staff and pupils.  The school chooses to use an online system for recording and analysing safeguarding concerns. This means that consistent record-keeping and monitoring of concerns are likely to be maintained across both sites. Leaders propose to use established induction procedures to ensure that any new staff appointed are appropriately trained, both in safeguarding generally and the school’s particular processes. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16  A suitable fire risk assessment has been carried out in conjunction with an external specialist. The assessments’ recommended steps to further reduce risk, such as improving aspects of signage, are in hand and all on track to be completed within the suggested timeframes.  As one school on two sites, the school’s existing and effectively implemented health and safety policy will similarly apply to the new premises. Time and care taken during

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Main inspection findings

the renovation process are helping to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to minimise risk to pupils and staff.  Leaders have ensured that risk assessments for the new site are carried out in line with the existing policy. They intend to use individual risk assessment to determine which pupils are ready to receive education on this site, taking account of associated off-site arrangements, for example for recreation. Much thought and planning has been invested in establishing supervised arrangements for the safe drop off, collection and transfer of pupils at a suitable location a short walk from the school premises.  Leaders have carefully considered the supervision requirements in planning the leadership and staffing structure and deployment for the new site. This takes thoughtful account of the flexibility needed to be responsive to specific activities and individual pupils’ needs.  The school is likely to meet all the paragraphs that were checked in this part if the

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21  Arrangements for checking the suitability of adults to work with pupils are likely to continue to meet requirements.  The single central record contains details of all the required checks of staff, leaders, supply staff and the proprietorial body. The record also exceeds the statutory requirements, recording a range of useful information, such as references and checks of employment history.  All requirements of these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29  The second premises consists of: an entrance hall; an office; a medical room; two large classrooms, one fitted with science laboratory facilities, and one with art and design technology facilities; a third slightly smaller classroom including computing facilities; an independent living skills kitchen classroom; an exams office; separate single toilet facilities, one allocated for boys and one for girls; an accessible toilet that will be the allocated staff toilet but could be used by a pupil with disabilities; and a small performing arts studio that can also be used for dining.  The buildings are freshly renovated and well decorated. Taking account of the final, largely cosmetic, ‘snagging’ ongoing at the time of the inspection, the finish is functional and professional.  The medical room has an integral washing facility and is a short walk to the nearest

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Main inspection findings

toilet.  There are plentiful sources of mains drinking water. Labels are ready and due to be fitted before the site opens to indicate the water supplies which pupils can access.  Leaders propose to use a nearby local park for recreation. This is a very short walk from the school. Leaders have also sourced local sports facilities and showers for delivery of the school’s physical education curriculum.  The second site meets the requirements of this part of the standards and has the capacity to accommodate the proposed increased roll. If the final snagging is completed and remaining signs mounted before the site opens to pupils, as intended, it is likely that the standards contained within this part will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders have a positive and growing track record of ensuring this school continuously meets the independent school standards. They were able to demonstrate convincingly, with supporting evidence, that standards are likely to continue to be met if the school expands to this additional site and increases its roll.  The proprietor and leaders express a clear and consistent rationale for the expansion and a coherent vision for how the school will operate successfully across two sites.  There is a clear leadership structure in place to support the expanded provision. The proprietor is in the process of appointing an additional assistant headteacher so that each site will have its own dedicated ‘figurehead’, responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. The governance function will continue to be predominantly provided by the proprietor’s regional executive principal.

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Main inspection findings

 Initially, some existing staff and pupils will move to this site, which is likely to support the establishment of a consistent ethos, policies and practices. Leaders intend to make additional appointments incrementally as the roll gradually increases over a period of a year to eighteen months.  Throughout their planning and preparations, the anticipated well-being of pupils has clearly been a prime consideration for leaders.  It is likely that this standard will continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely 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.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £52,000 – £54,000

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School details

Website www.the-aurora-group.com/redehall

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School details

Email address enquiries@the-aurora-group.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 24–26 April 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 6 to 19 6 to 19 6 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 44 74 74

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 44 74

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 44 74

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 44 74

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with a statement of special educational needs or an education, health and care plan 44 74

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 17 22

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Information about this school

 Aurora Redehall is an independent special school. Its previous standard inspection was also its first and took place on 24–26 April 2018. Since then, the school has continued to grow and is now at its current capacity.  The majority of pupils who attend have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or social communication disorder, and experience behavioural, emotional and social difficulties associated with their individual needs. Many have been excluded from mainstream education prior to coming to Aurora Redehall.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.  In addition to continuing to provide education at the registered address, the school proposes to offer education to some pupils at the following address: Francis Road, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5NR.

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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 wished to increase the school’s capacity, extending the school to a second site to accommodate additional pupils.  This was the first material change inspection.  Her Majesty’s Inspector reviewed the context and inspection history of the school. He held discussions with the headteacher and other leaders. The inspector also met with a representative of the proprietor and spoke by telephone with the proprietor’s regional executive principal. He toured the proposed additional site and visited community space earmarked for pupils’ recreation, as well as the proposed location for drop-off and collection, both a short distance from the school’s second site.  The inspector checked policies, records and documentation related to the specific independent school standards that were within the scope of this inspection. This

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Information about this inspection

included checking the single central record and safeguarding arrangements.

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Inspection team

Clive Dunn, 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

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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 looked after children, 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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