Educate U

School material change inspection report

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Educate U Unit 2, 58c Chapel Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1BG

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 and 32(1)(c)  Leaders follow rigorous procedures when recruiting new staff. They complete all necessary pre-employment checks and maintain careful records. The school’s safeguarding policy complies with current statutory guidance and is published on the school’s website. Paragraphs 11 and 12  Leaders have established and implemented effective policies to ensure the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors. They give fire safety an appropriately high priority. A fire safety review of the new accommodation was completed at the start of this term and improvements have been made quickly where necessary. A fire gate at the side of the building was installed during the inspection, ensuring that pupils and staff can leave the school grounds swiftly and safely in an emergency. Emergency procedures are displayed appropriately in the building, and fire exits are labelled

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Main inspection findings

clearly. Paragraph 14  Leaders ensure that the pupils are suitably supervised during lessons and throughout the school day. Caring relationships between adults and pupils contribute to the secure, nurturing environment. Leaders have made appropriate arrangements to ensure that appropriate staff-to-pupil ratios will continue if the Department for Education (DfE) approves the proposed increase in the number of pupils. Paragraph 16  The school’s risk assessment policy is implemented effectively. Leaders complete risk assessments for a wide range of activities and circumstances, including risk assessments completed for the premises; for educational trips and visits; and for classroom activities. Leaders also complete risk assessments which take account of pupils’ individual needs.  Leaders have ensured that all of the checked standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18, 19, 20 and 21  Leaders complete suitability checks for all staff, including those who are appointed via recruitment agencies. Well-established recruitment procedures follow statutory requirements closely and are likely to continue if the proposed material change is approved. The proprietors, who are central to the recruitment process, have completed safer recruitment training. Leaders ensure that staff receive regular safeguarding training, including induction training for newly-appointed staff.  Leaders are aware of their responsibility to ensure that suitability checks are completed for all persons offered for supply by an employment agency in accordance with current guidelines.  Suitability checks had been completed for each member of the proprietorial body at the time of the inspection. Leaders confirm that this will continue to be the case if the

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Main inspection findings

material change is approved.  The single central register of checks on adults working in the school was checked during the inspection and complied with statutory guidelines. Leaders have ensured that all relevant standards in Part 4 are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31  The school previously occupied the ground floor of the current building. This accommodation complies fully with all aspects of the standards required to meet Part 5. The upper floor of the building, previously occupied by an English language school, has recently been acquired by the proprietor.  The upper floor consists of three classrooms, a cookery room, a music room, a common room, a therapy room, a sensory room and a well-equipped medical room. All rooms have been refurbished and equipped to a high standard. The proprietor is

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Main inspection findings

also in the process of refurbishing an additional room which will be used primarily as a meeting room.  The upper-floor accommodation includes suitable toilet and washing facilities for the sole use of pupils. There are no showering facilities on site for older pupils. However, most physical education will take place at a local leisure centre which has appropriate facilities. Drinking water is available from the kitchen and is clearly labelled.  The proprietor has refurbished the second floor to a high standard. Each classroom has ample space for the increased number of pupils in the material change. All rooms, including the classrooms, are suitable equipped, airy and well lit. Existing health and safety procedures are already well established in the school, so that the premises are likely to be well maintained and safe in the future.  The school’s expansion into the second floor means that it now has the use of an

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Main inspection findings

outdoor area. Staff have worked hard to create an attractive and inviting area for pupils to use.  The school is likely to meet Part 5 if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The proprietor has ensured that the independent school standards have been consistently met over time. Leaders have considered the impact that the proposed increase in numbers will have on pupils currently attending the school. Appropriate procedures are in place to ensure that the proprietorial body has effective oversight of the school. These procedures will ensure that an increase in the number of pupils is likely to be well managed by the headteacher and her team.  The proprietor has ensured that all of the independent school standards are likely to be met should the material change be granted.

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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 5 to 16 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 18 30 30

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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 18 30

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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 18 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 18 30

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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 18 30

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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 material change inspection on 4 August 2020. 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.  The headteacher was appointed from September 2020.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection took place under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002. It was commissioned by the DfE because the proprietor had applied to make changes to the school’s registration. The proprietor wished to increase the number of pupils on roll from 20 to 30.  The inspection was commissioned by the DfE during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic of 2020.  This was the second material change inspection since the school was first registered.  I reviewed a range of documentation during the inspection. I held a series of meetings with the proprietors and the headteacher. I also checked the school’s website, including published policies and other information.  The on-site visit included a tour of the school site. I visited classrooms, communal rooms and outside areas. I scrutinised a range of documents and records, including the single central register of checks on adults working at the school.

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Inspection team

Julie Sackett, 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 looked after children, 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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