Educate U

School material change inspection report

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Educate U 58c Chapel Road, Worthing BN11 1BG

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4  A pre-registration inspection in November 2019 found that this school was likely to meet all of the independent school standards when it opened. The proprietor now wishes to adjust the school’s registration to admit pupils from the age of five, equivalent to national curriculum Year 1. Currently, the school is registered to provide education for pupils from the ages of eight to 16.  The school’s existing curriculum policy will also underpin the education offered to younger pupils. The intended focus is to provide ‘individual learning packages’ based on assessment of each pupil’s particular needs. It is likely that pupils who attend, even at this young age, will have had difficult and possibly traumatising experiences of education.  The proprietor recognises that in the context the school operates, key stage 1 pupils who attend are likely to still be working within early years developmental areas in

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Main inspection findings

some or all aspects of learning. The intention is to provide learning experiences that build on these core foundations of learning accordingly, such as language, literacy and communication, and personal and social development.  ‘First base’ will be to settle younger pupils in an environment where they feel comfortable. Leaders plan to adopt a nurturing approach, finding out about, and using, pupils’ interests and strengths to engage them, helping them to form relationships between peers and staff and building carefully towards academic learning.  Although the school’s intended approach is to personalise the curriculum, the proprietor has ensured that there are plans and schemes of work in place to support teachers of younger pupils. These cover age-appropriate mathematics and English, and include aspects of science, history and geography. The focus of physical education will be weekly swimming sessions using local facilities close to the school.

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Main inspection findings

Technological experience may include risk-assessed use of information and communication technology, but will also involve other aspects of technology during both indoor and outdoor learning.  Leaders recognise the pivotal role learning to read is likely to have in helping pupils get back on track, particularly those in the critical expanded age range. Although it was not possible to verify on this inspection, leaders are confident that members of the primary teaching team have the required knowledge, skill and resources to teach and assess reading effectively.  The personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education policy sets out the importance of the school’s work in this area. Schemes of work for younger pupils cover appropriate topics in an age-appropriate way, such as: differences and community; developing a healthy, safer lifestyle; being active; and how behaviour affects others.  The pre-registration inspection found that pupils are likely to receive appropriate

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Main inspection findings

careers education, information, advice and guidance. This inspection did not re- examine these arrangements as they are unaffected by the material change applied for.  The school has several teachers or staff with key stage 1 experience, including the deputy headteacher. This position will be further strengthened with new appointments from September, including an early years practitioner. The rapidly expanding staff team brings a wide range of other relevant experience, including in mental health and therapy.  The school is likely to meet the requirements of this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  Leaders see promoting pupils’ personal development, including spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, as central to the school’s work. In particular, they aim to prioritise developing pupils’ self-esteem, creating or encouraging pupils’ sense that they can make a valuable contribution to the world around them.  The pre-registration inspection found staff to be knowledgeable about how to seize opportunities across a range of subjects to teach pupils about their own culture and that of others. The evidence indicated that their expertise in this area was likely to contribute positively to the promotion of British values. Leaders are clear about how the early foundations will be laid for younger pupils to support this developing understanding.  The current COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has restricted opportunities to carry

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Main inspection findings

out all desired activities planned beyond the school. Nonetheless, anticipated trips, such as to a farm and weekly swimming, or helping older pupils who organise and run charity coffee mornings for the wider community, are likely to promote pupils’ self- esteem and confidence.  The PSHE curriculum is also likely to make a strong contribution to younger pupils’ development in this area if implemented effectively. For example, it is likely to develop pupils’ understanding of ‘self’ and where they fit in the world and universe around them.  Through a programme of different focus weeks, including marking the celebration of festivals from a range of cultures and religions, leaders aim to give pupils a breadth of experience. A visit to the school from a blow-up planetarium is booked, including a specific focus for younger pupils. A festive walking week is intended to help younger pupils get to know the different areas in the local community.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has appointed a mindfulness lead from September to work alongside children in class as well as in individual or group sessions, as necessary.  The school is likely to meet the standard in this part.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on its website, as required. The proprietor has ensured the policy has been updated to reflect the school’s current operation and context. Directors have already evaluated the effective implementation of the policy and can exemplify how it has worked in practice since the school recently opened.  The school is likely to meet the requirements of these paragraphs.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The proprietor can give a reasonable account, supported by relevant evidence, of how the school is likely to continue to meet the standards this inspection checked if the age range is expanded.  Anticipating the growth of the school within its registered capacity, the proprietor has strengthened, and continues to increase, the school’s leadership and staffing. Directors have ensured that staff have the range of knowledge, experience and expertise likely to support a school in this context to operate effectively.  Directors have considered carefully the division of responsibilities between the new headteacher and the founding headteacher, who remains as director of education, part of the proprietorial body. Working under the new headteacher, the existing deputy headteacher’s specific responsibilities will include provision across the primary

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Main inspection findings

years. A programme of reporting and meetings has been set up to support the efficient daily running and strategic development of the school.  The proprietor is in the process of establishing a monitoring committee, drawing on external expertise and involving parents and carers. The first meeting has been held, although precise terms of reference, such as the role the committee will have in the school’s accountability structure and policies, are yet to be finalised.  The school is likely to meet the standard contained within this paragraph.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 16 5 to 16 5 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 11 Not applicable Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 11 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils 0 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 11 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 11 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 11 Not applicable

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 4 6

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Information about this school

 Educate U offers alternative provision for up to 20 pupils who are experiencing challenges in accessing full-time mainstream education. This includes pupils who have been permanently excluded from school or who are at risk of this. Some pupils have been out of school for prolonged periods when they join.  The school had a successful pre-registration inspection on 12 November 2019 and was registered open on 2 December 2019. It is yet to receive its first full standard inspection.  Admission to the school is usually via referrals from the relevant local authority, but may also come from pupils’ existing schools or parents and carers. Some pupils may attend part time depending on their level of need, although at present, all pupils are full time.  Pupils are highly likely to have special educational needs and/or disabilities and currently all have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not have a particular religious character, nor does it make use of any

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Information about this school

other alternative provision.  A new headteacher is due to start in September 2020. The existing headteacher will continue to be director of education.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. The inspection was conducted remotely. This was because the school was not operating at the time of the inspection and no standards relating to the premises and accommodation needed to be checked.  The DfE commissioned the inspection because the proprietor had applied to make changes to the school’s registration. The proprietor wished to admit pupils from the age of five rather than eight. This will not include statutory early years provision.  This was the first material change inspection.  I reviewed electronic copies of all relevant documentation remotely. I held a series of online meetings with the director of education (currently also the headteacher) and the director of services who, together, form the proprietorial body, and the new headteacher.

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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

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

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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