Manchester Jewish School for Special Education

School material change inspection report

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Manchester Jewish School for Special Education Manchester Jewish, Community Centre, Bury Old Road, Manchester M7 4QY

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  Leaders have a suitable safeguarding policy in place. It is up to date and meets all current statutory requirements. Leaders have put in place all the necessary arrangements to ensure the safeguarding of pupils and to promote their welfare at the school. They have considered pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their particular vulnerabilities.  There are designated safeguarding leads within the school. Staff receive appropriate safeguarding training. They receive regular updates on areas such as radicalisation and extremism, and e-safety. New staff will receive safeguarding training. Paragraph 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c), 10  Leaders have detailed behaviour and exclusion policies in place. There is also an appropriate anti-bullying policy. Any incidents of poor behaviour are effectively logged. Leaders have identified appropriate and proportionate sanctions. Policies guide staff to

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Main inspection findings

seek to de-escalate incidents. Also, staff teach pupils a range of responses and skills to successfully deal with different social situations. Paragraph 11, 12, 13, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders have a written health and safety policy. It complies with all relevant laws. The proposed additional premises have regular fire safety checks, and the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Records show that there is appropriate testing of fire equipment.  Leaders have implemented an array of policies that include first aid, safety on trips and the administration of medicines. All of these policies reflect and meet statutory requirements and are reviewed regularly.  A written risk assessment policy is in place. A comprehensive range of risk assessments show that leaders take appropriate actions to minimise risks to pupils on and off the school site. These assessments cover the proposed additional premises.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 14  Pupils are well supervised at all times, including arriving at school, breaktimes and on leaving the premises. There is a planned increase in staff numbers to accommodate the rise in the number of pupils on roll that the school is proposing in its material change request. Consequently, there will be enough staff to supervise pupils in the new accommodation. Paragraph 15  Leaders have appropriate systems in place to register pupils’ attendance. These allow them to effectively monitor any pupils’ absences. Leaders report on attendance to the proprietor regularly.  The proprietor has published a suitable admissions policy for the school. Systems are in place to ensure that records of admission adhere to the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006.  Leaders have ensured that all the independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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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), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)  As part of this material change application to increase numbers on roll from 25 to 40 pupils, leaders have secured additional accommodation. This proposed site is located near to the school in a local cricket clubhouse. The school will occupy a large open- plan room and will have access to toilets, kitchen facilities and space to locate a medical room. There is also a large playing field that is used by the school. The school will have sole use of this accommodation during weekdays.  There are appropriate toilet, changing and shower facilities for the proposed increase in pupil numbers. All toilets can be secured from the inside. There is running hot and cold water. The hot water is at an appropriate temperature. There are signs in the

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Main inspection findings

toilets indicating that the water is not suitable for drinking.  Pupils have access to drinking water throughout the day. Bottled water is provided for all pupils, but they are also able to get drinking water from the communal kitchen areas. Taps are clearly labelled to identify that the water is suitable for drinking. Paragraph 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  A medical room has been set aside with suitable washing facilities and easy access to a toilet. A bed, bedding and first aid kit are also set up in the room. Paragraph 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  The premises are suitable for teaching and other educational activities. All parts of the accommodation have appropriate acoustics, lighting and heating. The exterior and interior lighting are of an appropriate standard.  The existing school and the proposed additional accommodation have sufficient space and suitable classroom areas to accommodate the proposed increase in pupils.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  Pupils and students have access to an appropriate outdoor space that is safe. It is suitable for pupils to play in when not in lessons. This space will also provide room for physical education, in accordance with the school’s curriculum requirements.  The school benefits from having its own swimming pool and sensory room.  All of the standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and headteacher have a secure understanding of the independent school standards and they monitor compliance regularly.  Leaders’ detailed plans show that the school can provide education and accommodation for an increased number of pupils.  Leaders demonstrate a high level of experience, knowledge and commitment to providing a good quality of education for pupils with SEND. They actively promote the

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Main inspection findings

well-being of pupils and students.  All of the independent school standards are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 20–22 November 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 25 4 to 25 4 to 25

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 26 40 40

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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 25 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 26 40

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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 23 40

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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 23 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 10 14

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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 Manchester Jewish School for Special Education is housed in a Jewish community centre in north Manchester. It is proposed as part of this material change inspection that a second site is opened. It is situated close to the school at the local cricket club. It is proposed that it will accommodate the 16- to 25-year-old students.  The last standard inspection took place in November 2018, when the school was found to be providing a good standard of education. All of the independent school standards were judged to be met. The school was subsequently successful in applying for a material change in March 2019. This application for a material change was to increase its maximum number of pupils on role from 14 to 20 and to change the age range from four to 19 to four to 25 years.  The vast majority of pupils have an education, health and care plan. Most pupils have moderate learning difficulties, and some have more complex needs.

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Information about this school

 The school is registered for boys and girls, but, at the time of the inspection, all the pupils on roll were boys.  The school does not use alternative provision.  Pupils attend for four and a half days a week. The school day is shorter on a Friday for religious observance. The school also offers after-school facilities each evening and on Sunday mornings. However, due to the recent Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, these activities have been temporarily suspended.

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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. Some of the inspection was conducted remotely in order to reduce the length of time spent visiting the school. This is in line with Covid-19 guidance.  The school has applied for a material change to increase its maximum number of pupils on roll from 25 to 40. The school has secured further accommodation close to the school to support this material change application.  The DfE requested that Ofsted conduct a material change inspection to report against parts 3, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards. The inspector also checked those aspects of safeguarding that directly linked to the material change application.  This was the school’s second material change inspection since the previous inspection in November 2018.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher and deputy headteacher. She

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Information about this inspection

also held a telephone conversation with the proprietor.  The inspector checked the suitability of the proposed additional school premises against the relevant independent school standards.  The inspector toured the school’s premises and checked its facilities and outside areas. She looked at a wide range of documents, including behaviour, anti-bullying, attendance and admissions. She also checked documents relating to safeguarding and health and safety. Some of these documents were looked at prior to the visit to the school and some on site.

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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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