Nisai House Stoke

School material change inspection report

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Nisai House Stoke 1 Fishergate Point, Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 1GD

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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) [Part 6. Provision of information]  The school’s safeguarding policy reflects current government guidelines and is published on the school’s website. On induction, all staff are required to complete safeguarding training. Leaders check that staff understand this training and regularly update it using information and guidance from organisations such as the NSPCC.  Leaders work closely with the local police force and are very knowledgeable about the potential threats and challenges in the local community. Leaders considered local issues carefully before deciding on where the potential new premises should be located to provide a learning environment that is as safe as possible for all pupils.  The school also provides education through an online learning platform. Leaders ensure that internet filtering systems are securely in place. Staff monitor pupils’ use of

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Main inspection findings

the learning platform closely. All possible actions are taken to minimise any potential risks that pupils may be exposed to through the use of the technology.  Leaders and staff record any concerns they may have about pupils immediately. They follow up any concerns quickly and work with outside agencies, such as social care, to ensure that pupils receive additional support to keep them as safe as possible.  The school is likely to meet this standard if the material change is implemented. Paragraph 11  Leaders have developed a comprehensive health and safety policy. The policy identifies potential hazards in the school’s sites and details actions staff should take to minimise any risk to themselves. Leaders ensure that staff receive a copy of this policy as part of their induction.  The school is likely to meet this standard if the material change is implemented. Paragraph 12  A fire assessment report in November 2019 identified some key issues relating to fire

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Main inspection findings

safety such as lack of testing of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. However, leaders provided evidence to show that they have taken swift action to address the failings in fire safety. For example, certificates show that fire extinguisher, emergency lighting, gas and electrical testing have been passed successfully since the report was published. Old electrical equipment has been thrown away, and new appliances have been purchased. Leaders have successfully completed fire warden training.  The regional manager conducted a virtual tour of the school’s two proposed new sites. During this tour, it appeared that the emergency lighting was working. Fire exits were clearly marked, and fire evacuation plans were visible throughout the buildings. The fire exits, stair wells and corridors appeared clear of any obstructions. Smoke alarms were also visible and operational. Fire doors were clearly marked as such and

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Main inspection findings

appeared to be self-closing.  This inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19 (coronavirus). It is, therefore, not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that this standard would be likely to be met should the material change be accepted. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The risk assessment policy details how potential hazards and the risk reduction measures required to mitigate them will be identified. Leaders provided examples of suitable risk assessments, which identified how to reduce potential risks, for example, when using display screen equipment, when playing pool and when learning online. The risk assessments show that staff have appropriately considered the possible measures to minimise risks to staff and pupils.  This inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that this

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Main inspection findings

standard would be likely to be met should the material change be accepted. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools  The following standards were reviewed through a virtual tour of the school sites using mobile video technology. As this inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19 (coronavirus), it is not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that the standards in Part 5 would be likely to be met should the material change be accepted. Paragraph 22, 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c) and 23(2)  On both sites, there is evidence that there are separate male and female toilet facilities for the sole use of pupils. The toilets are labelled clearly. They contain cubicles, and the leader demonstrated how the cubicles are secured. Wash handbasins were visible, and the taps were functioning. The toilet facilities appeared to be clean and well maintained. Both sites have a disabled toilet on the ground floor.

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Main inspection findings

These toilets appeared to have appropriate hand rails fitted, and the wash handbasins were functioning.  There are no separate showers or changing facilities. No physical education is offered on site. The school intends to use local leisure centre facilities for physical education lessons and will use the changing and washing facilities on these sites as needed. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b) and 24(2)  There is a separate medical room on both sites, which is used for the sole purpose of medical and therapy needs. Both appear suitable for medical examination and accommodating pupils’ short-term medical needs. On one site, the medical room has a wash handbasin with running water. Leaders have provided a bowl in the medical room on the other site to provide washing facilities as needed. Both rooms appear to be in close proximity to a toilet. Paragraph 25  The leader conducted a virtual tour of both sites from the entrance of the buildings,

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Main inspection findings

through the entrance halls and then to toilets, teaching spaces, office areas, medical rooms, kitchen areas, outside spaces and fire assembly points. Both sites appear to be well maintained and clean. No rubbish, obstructions or potential dangers were observed during the tour. Paragraph 26  The leader could be heard clearly throughout the tour, and no background noises were audible. However, the acoustic conditions could not be checked first hand. Paragraph 27, 27(a) and 27(b)  On both sites, the teaching spaces have large windows along at least one of the walls. Appropriate grilles and coverings were observed over light fittings. All lights, including emergency lighting, appeared to be functioning. There is street lighting directly outside both buildings. External lighting could not be verified as functional during the tour. The lighting around the school and in the proposed classes appeared to be

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Main inspection findings

adequate. Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a) and 28(2)(b)  Drinking water appeared to be available and easily accessible on both sites. Bottled water, labelled as drinking water, was available on tables in the main hall on one site and in the entrance hall of the other site.  Toilets had wash handbasins with hot and cold taps suitably labelled. The school leader stated that the hot taps had temperature controls on them, but this could not be verified. Hot taps were marked with a ‘Caution – hot water’ sign. Taps were observed to be working during the tour. Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a) and 29(1)(b)  Both sites had small spaces available for pupils to play outside. Leaders stated that, due to the nature of the educational provision, very small numbers of pupils would be on site at any one time. Therefore, the spaces are adequate for the purposes of outdoor play.  Leaders do not propose to offer physical education on site. They propose to use the

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Main inspection findings

local leisure centre facilities as necessary. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  The proprietor, governor and leaders have a clear understanding of the independent school standards. They all demonstrated that they have the knowledge and skills to ensure that the standards are consistently met. For example, where leaders identified standards that were not being met on the new sites, they took swift action to remedy any issues before the inspection. As a result, standards that could be fully checked during this inspection are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.  Leaders have taken steps to update all school policies in line with government guidelines. The policies show that the proprietor and leaders are committed to actively promoting pupils’ well-being.  These standards are likely to be met if the material change is accepted.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders ensure that the school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. There is an accessibility plan in place, which provides details of how learning and the physical environment will be made accessible to all pupils. For example, both sites have disabled toilets located on the ground floor of the buildings. As a provider of online learning for some pupils, adaptations to the learning resources can also be made, such as changing the colours of backgrounds and fonts to support visual needs.

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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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Compliance with regulatory requirements

This inspection was conducted without visiting the school site owing to COVID-19. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the full level of assurance to judge that some standards would be likely to be met should the material change be accepted.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 24–26 April 2018

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Information about this school

 Nisai House Stoke is currently situated in Nottingham.  The two proposed sites in Stoke are located at: The Swan, Swan Square, Burslam, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 3EA and 1 Commerce Street, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 1NW  The school provides full-time education for pupils in the 12 to 19 years age range. Most pupils have been excluded, or are at risk of exclusion, from their parent schools.  The school does not use any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) in response to an application by the school for a change in premises. The inspection focused on whether the new premises would be likely to meet some of the welfare, health and safety standards in Part 3 and the standards in Part 5 if the material change was implemented.  This was the first material change inspection.  The lead inspector held telephone conversations with the proprietor, the academic director and the chair of the governing body. Video conference meetings were also held with the proprietor and academic director, along with the general manager and the regional manager.  A virtual tour of the two proposed sites was conducted with the regional and general managers using mobile video technology.  The lead inspector examined a range of documents including the school’s safeguarding policy, documents and policies relating to fire safety, health and safety

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Information about this inspection

and risk assessments.  Examinations of the school’s record of safeguarding checks made on staff and pupil safeguarding records were made through computer screen sharing.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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