Clovelly House School

Clovelly House School Clovelly, Merrylees Road, Thornton, Leicestershire LE67 1AP

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned the inspection due to concerns regarding leaders’ management of allegations against adults. Leaders have not followed correct procedures in reporting concerns about staff conduct to the appropriate authority. Leaders have not taken swift enough action to manage any potential risks while concerns are investigated.  Leaders do not know the statutory safeguarding guidance well enough. They are not aware of the most recent changes to it, including those relating to allegations against members of staff.  Safeguarding leaders have not had sufficient training to be able to carry out their roles effectively. They have not kept themselves informed of recent safeguarding updates and developments.  Leaders do not provide staff with regular safeguarding training so that it becomes part of everyday practice. Staff are not aware of recent changes to statutory guidance.

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Main inspection findings

They are not confident about the procedures they should follow if they have concerns about an adult working at the school.  Leaders do not maintain detailed, comprehensive safeguarding records. As a result, some records lack the necessary detail and accuracy. For example, it is not always clear what action leaders have taken in response to concerns about pupils’ welfare.  The school’s safeguarding policy is out of date. Leaders have failed to review this policy to include the most recent statutory guidance.  Other policies related to keeping pupils safe, including the whistleblowing policy and the radicalisation and extremism policy, contain inaccurate information. This includes information about who staff should contact if they have a concern.  Staff know the pupils well. They recognise the signs to look for that may show a pupil is at risk. Weekly discussions allow staff to share any worries they have about a pupil.

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Main inspection findings

However, leaders have not ensured that staff follow the school’s procedures when recording a concern about pupils.  Pupils learn how to reduce the risks they may face, for example when using online devices.  Leaders have a clear understanding of the recruitment checks they must complete before an adult starts to work at the school.  The school does not meet these standards. Paragraph 14  Leaders ensure that there are enough staff supervising pupils, both on and off site.  Leaders consider any additional needs pupils may have when deciding which staff members will work with them.  The school meets this standard. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The school’s risk assessment policy does not provide guidance for staff on how to measure the severity of any risk that may have been identified for particular pupils or activities. This prevents staff from being able to identify risk accurately.  Risk assessments do not identify the specific hazards that pupils may face. This

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Main inspection findings

includes individual pupil risk assessments and risk assessments for different subjects and activities. Often, the risk assessments do not identify specific strategies that staff should adopt to reduce identified risks.  The school does not meet these standards. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  While the safeguarding policy is out of date, it is available on the school’s website.  The school meets this standard. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor, who is also the headteacher, has not ensured that school leaders demonstrate good knowledge and expertise, so that the independent school standards are met consistently.  The proprietor and school leaders do not understand fully their safeguarding responsibilities so that they take appropriate action when necessary, particularly in the light of recent changes to statutory guidance.

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Main inspection findings

 Safeguarding procedures and the processes to identify and reduce risk are not sufficiently robust to ensure that all staff know how to promote pupils’ welfare and keep them safe.  The proprietor has not paid due care and attention to the policies required to meet the standards. Key policies relating to safeguarding refer to out-of-date statutory guidance. Some include detail that is not relevant to the school’s setting or contact information that is incorrect.  The school does not meet these standards.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of this report. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 1

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 17–18 April 2018

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Information about this school

 Clovelly House School is an independent special school in Leicestershire.  The school provides an education for pupils aged 10 to 18 years.  Pupils who attend the school have social, emotional and mental health difficulties, as well as other complex needs.  The school is operating from a second premises, in addition to its registered premises. The address of this additional premises is The Bungalow, Mill Lane, Enderby LE19 4LX.  The school does not work with any alternative providers.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 17–18 April 2018. A material change inspection took place on 26 February 2019.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned the inspection due to concerns regarding leaders’ management of allegations against adults. The DfE commissioned the lead inspector to check the school’s provision for the welfare, health and safety of pupils and the quality of leadership and management.  The inspection was unannounced, in line with the commission from the DfE. The lead inspector contacted the school 30 minutes before the inspection started. This was to provide leaders with an opportunity to make any necessary preparations due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), prior to the lead inspector’s arrival on site.  The lead inspector met with the headteacher, who is also the proprietor. She met with four members of staff, including the leader responsible for safeguarding, and three pupils.  The lead inspector reviewed a range of policies and documents, including those relating to safeguarding and risk assessment.  The lead inspector spoke on the telephone with a local authority designated officer for

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Inspection team

Rachel Tordoff, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that-

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently;

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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