Weston Point College

Weston Point College Picow Farm Road, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4UN

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding procedures are effective. The school’s policy and procedures are in accordance with government guidance and refer to locally agreed inter-agency procedures.  All staff receive appropriate safeguarding training and regular updates. New staff undergo training in safeguarding as part of a thorough induction programme.  Staff have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities with regard to the safeguarding of pupils. They keep a close eye on pupils and make sure that any concerns are reported to the designated safeguarding leads immediately. Staff are confident that any concerns are followed up diligently by the designated leads.  Staff use both informal and formal opportunities to teach pupils about how to keep themselves safe.  The safeguarding and child protection policy is available to parents and carers on the

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Main inspection findings

school website. Leaders make sure that parents are kept regularly informed with any safeguarding updates and advice. Paragraph 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c)  The new headteacher has made a number of organisational changes which have improved pupils’ behaviour across the school. This has reduced the number of behaviour incidents over the last academic year.  There is a written behaviour policy which complies with statutory requirements. This policy sets out the school’s expectations for pupils’ behaviour clearly, the procedures for dealing with misbehaviour and the sanctions which are to be used.  Leaders keep electronic records of any incidents of poor behaviour. Leaders record any occurrences, identify the actions taken and review the effectiveness of such actions. These are reported regularly to the proprietor body which oversees the governance of the school.  Leaders have clear procedures and expectations for how they want teaching staff to

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Main inspection findings

manage pupils’ behaviour. Leaders believe all pupils should be treated with respect and support, regardless of what they might do. They provide effective support for staff in dealing with any behaviour issues.  Staff and pupils agree that pupils mostly conduct themselves well both in class and around school. Pupils report that they have trusting and respectful relationships with the adults in the school. This contributes to the calm and purposeful atmosphere observed by the inspector at the time of the inspection. Paragraph 14  Pupils are supervised closely, both on and off site. Some pupils have additional support staff to help them, if this is required.  There are sufficient staff on duty at all times of the school day, including breaktimes and lunchtimes. For example, many staff eat their lunch with pupils as they feel it is a good chance to talk to pupils and get to know them. Staff on duty have walkie-talkies

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Main inspection findings

so that they can summon help should there be any accidents or incidents.  The standards in this part are met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 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), 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), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(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), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a), 21(7)(b)  The electronic single central register (SCR) meets the requirements for the information it must contain. Leaders understand the need to complete all the required

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Main inspection findings

checks on the suitability of staff before they take up their appointments. The required checks, prescribed in this part of the independent school standards that relate to the suitability of staff, have been completed on all staff appointed. This includes that the headteacher, teachers and support staff have suitable qualifications and experience.  Records relating to the proprietor body and directors are included on the school’s SCR. All the suitability checks, including those relating to the leadership and management of a school, have also been carried out.  The school has two designated safeguarding leads. The headteacher has overall responsibility for safeguarding and is also trained to the level of a designated safeguarding lead. School leaders and the proprietor body have completed appropriate training to support them to appoint staff who are suitable to work in a school.  Leaders are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of employing agency staff

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Main inspection findings

to ensure they are suitable to work with pupils.  Leaders are clear about their responsibility for checking the suitability of volunteers who might work with pupils.  All the independent school standards in this part are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body and school leaders have ensured that the school meets all of the independent school standards that were covered in this inspection, and that pupils’ well-being is promoted.  The headteacher and proprietor body have ensured that policies and procedures for safeguarding, behaviour, supervision and appointing new staff comply with the independent school standards. Leaders are conscientious in their responsibilities. They regularly monitor the effectiveness of these policies and procedures.  The proprietor body checks the quality of the work of the school. The headteacher

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Main inspection findings

provides a comprehensive report at the termly directors’ meetings. These reports include information on areas such as safeguarding and incidents of behaviour.  Staff who spoke to the inspector have confidence in their leaders and managers. They reported that there are effective arrangements in place for safeguarding pupils, maintaining good standards of behaviour and the proper supervision of pupils. Staff feel well supported to do their jobs and confident to speak up if they have any concerns.  The standards in this part are met.

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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 were checked during this inspection. 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

Proprietor Bridge4Learning Education Services Limited

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £33,487 to £48,599

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School details

Email address katie.anderson@bridge4learning.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 9–11 July 2019

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Information about this school

 The last standard inspection took place in July 2019.  Since the last standard inspection, a new headteacher has been appointed. The school has also closed one of its three school sites.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE).  The inspection was carried out under section 109 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 and was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  The DfE requested that the inspector reported on the independent school standards in respect of safeguarding, behaviour, the supervision of pupils and leadership and management.  The inspector observed pupils’ behaviour in the classrooms, when interacting around school and at breaktimes.  The inspector spoke to some pupils and a small group of staff. She also considered parental responses to a survey recently carried out by the school.  The inspector scrutinised a range of school documents relating to the welfare, health, safety and behaviour of pupils. The documents checked included the school’s safeguarding policy.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher and the deputy headteacher.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector spoke on the telephone with a representative and chair of the proprietor body.

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Inspection team

Sue Eastwood, 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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