TLG Wakefield

School material change inspection report

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TLG Wakefield All Saints Parish Church, High Street, Normanton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF6 1NT

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The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The headteacher promotes a culture of safeguarding across the school that is supported by a comprehensive safeguarding policy and detailed safeguarding records.  The headteacher has produced a safeguarding policy that references current statutory guidance and is accessible from the school’s website.  Staff follow a well-planned programme of induction when they start working at TLG Wakefield. The proprietor monitors completion of this induction programme to ensure that all staff are aware of their responsibility for the health and safety of pupils in the school.  The proprietor provides all staff with child protection training. The designated safeguarding lead has completed enhanced safeguarding training.  The proprietor has invested in support from the Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) education charity. The lead for safeguarding from the TLG group monitors the training

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Main inspection findings

available to staff. She organises additional training when required, for example, bereavement training for staff as part of the school’s response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Paragraph 11  The proprietor has ensured that there is a detailed health and safety policy, which is understood and implemented by school staff. The headteacher works closely with the specialist lead for health and safety from the TLG education charity to complete regular health and safety audits. These audits cover the school buildings, equipment and safety procedures. The proprietor monitors the reports from these audits and responds promptly to the headteacher’s request for any required improvements. Paragraph 12  The proprietor has produced a fire safety policy, which shows how the school complies with fire safety regulations. The proprietor ensures that the school’s fire safety equipment is checked annually and replaced as required. There is a trained fire

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Main inspection findings

warden who implements weekly tests of the fire safety alarm and ensures that evacuation drills are completed half-termly. The headteacher is aware of the importance of personal evacuation plans. These are built into pupil’s individual risk assessments. Paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The headteacher completes risk assessments to reduce risks for staff and pupils, such as for the use of hazardous substances, lone working, trips and outdoor activities. The specialist lead for health and safety for the TLG education charity oversees the completion of risk assessments. The proprietor has responsibility for final authorisation of risk assessments. When a pupil is admitted to the school, there is an assessment of any known risks that may have been a feature of that pupil’s needs in their previous school. The headteacher keeps pupils’ individual risk assessments under regular review with parents.  School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards in this part are

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Main inspection findings

met and are likely to continue to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) approves the implementation of the material change requested by the school.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3)  The proprietor has produced a safer recruitment policy. The policy explains how appointments of new staff are done safely and fairly. The proprietor has provided safer recruitment training to members of the management committee.  The proprietor ensures that pre-employment checks are completed in line with current government guidance. Paragraphs 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i), 19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3)  The proprietor does not expect to use supply staff. However, the proprietor has a system in place to carry out checks on the suitability of supply staff to work in the school if this was to become necessary. Paragraphs 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii)

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Main inspection findings

26(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 23(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(5), 21(5)(a) 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c), 21(6)  The proprietor ensures that checks are completed in line with current government guidance. These checks apply to all adults who work in the school and all members of the management committee. The headteacher maintains a central register of this information, which is checked and monitored by the proprietor.  School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards in this part are met and are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves the implementation of the material change requested by the school. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c)  School leaders have requested an increase to the number of pupils they can admit to

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Main inspection findings

the school. The estimated pupil capacity of the existing school buildings is appropriate for the upper limit of 14 pupils that the proprietor has requested on the material change application to the DfE.  The proprietor has ensured that there is easy access to toilets and washing facilities. Paragraphs 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  The medical room is a quiet and private space with a toilet and wash handbasin for the sole use of pupils who are unwell. Paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  The school has a central hall. The headteacher has organised this space so that there is room and equipment for formal teaching in one half. The other half of this large hall is set up for practical activities and is equipped with computers. The computer storage is designed so that all equipment can be locked away in wall cupboards when lessons are not in session. This means that this space can be used as a social and dining area

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Main inspection findings

outside of lesson times.  The proprietor has ensured that all rooms are welcoming and well maintained. The school buildings are light, airy and pleasant. Paragraphs 28(1), (28) (1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)  Pupils can easily get drinking water through the school day from the school’s kitchen, which is close to the central teaching area.  The water to the washing facilities in the toilet block is kept at a safe temperature for pupils. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The outdoor area is small but of adequate size for pupils to play and get fresh air at breaktimes and lunchtimes. The hall is large enough for indoor physical activities, but the main sports curriculum is delivered at a local gym. The headteacher has produced a risk assessment for use of this facility. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, it was not possible to visit this gym. However, the gym was visited as part of the standard

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Main inspection findings

inspection in November 2019 when its use was judged to be compliant with the independent school standards.  School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards in this part are met and are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves the implementation of the material change requested by the school.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The proprietor has ensured that the safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website. This policy is easy to find and is compliant with government guidance.  There is information about the school’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the school website. The headteacher has published an addendum to the safeguarding policy to explain the updated safeguarding procedures.  School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards in this part are met and are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves the implementation of the material change requested by the school.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has established a structure of governance in the form of a management committee that meets half-termly. The management committee is formed from members of the parochial church council who are the named proprietor group.  The proprietor also works closely with directors and operational leads employed by the TLG education charity. Staff from the TLG group bring additional capacity to the leadership and management of TLG Wakefield. They have a background in school leadership, health and safety and safeguarding.  The management committee, supported by leaders from the TLG education charity, have monitored the increase to pupil numbers in the school and have ensured that there has been planned investment for the staffing and resourcing of the expanded school.  School leaders have already implemented the material change that they have

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Main inspection findings

requested as they have more pupils on roll than they are registered for. School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards in this part are met and are likely to continue to be met if the DfE approves the implementation of the material change requested by the school.

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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 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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Proprietor Normanton Parochial Church Council

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £15,504 - £17,480

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12–15 November 2019

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 14 14 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 4 Up to 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 14 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 5 Up to 7

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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 5 Up to 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 The school opened in July 2017. It was previously inspected in November 2019 when it was judged to be good.  The school is currently registered for up to 10 pupils but has 14 pupils on roll at present. This has been reported to the DfE.  The school is run in a partnership between All Saints Church, Normanton and TLG, an education charity.  The school has a distinctive Christian ethos.  Pupils who are referred to the school have found it difficult to cope with learning in a mainstream environment, or have been, or are at risk of being, permanently excluded from school.  The school accepts pupils with a wide range of special educational needs and/or disabilities. A small proportion of pupils have an education, health and care plan.  Pupils are referred from their mainstream school. Typically, pupils attend the school for two or four days per week for specialist support to re-engage them with learning and improve their behaviour and attitudes to school.

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Information about this school

 All pupils are dual registered and remain on the roll of their mainstream school. When not at TLG Wakefield, pupils attend their mainstream school.  The school operates in church buildings, which have been refurbished to accommodate the school.  The school does not use any alternative education provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Some of the inspection was conducted remotely. This was due to restrictions placed on non-essential travel during the COVID-19 outbreak.  This inspection was commissioned by the DfE because the proprietor had applied to increase the number of pupils on the school’s roll from 10 to 14. This was the school’s first material change inspection.  The inspector held video meetings with the proprietor, headteacher and representatives of the TLG education charity.  The inspector made a site visit to check the school premises against the independent school standards.  The inspector scrutinised documentation taken from the school’s website and provided by the headteacher during the inspection. These documents included the school’s statutory policies, logs relating to the health, safety and well-being of pupils, and reports relating to safeguarding and governance.

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Inspection team

Patricia Head, 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 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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