Park House School

School material change inspection report

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Park House School 277 Cheddon Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7AX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(b)  Leaders have suitable arrangements in place to safeguard pupils. The safeguarding policy is comprehensive and meets current government legislation and guidance. It is easily accessible on the school’s website.  Staff receive suitable training that supports them to take appropriate action to minimise risk and keep pupils safe. Leaders have provided staff with valuable additional training on risks that are pertinent to pupils who attend this school. As a result, staff are confident in the action to take should they spot any concerns regarding the safety or well-being of a pupil. Leaders work closely with other agencies to report concerns about pupils and to ensure that the right support is in place for pupils and their families. Paragraph 11  The proprietor has implemented the health and safety policy effectively. Staff carry out appropriate checks on the premises and equipment to comply with requirements.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 12  The proprietor complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Leaders ensure that all fire checks are routinely undertaken to maintain equipment. Risk assessments are pertinent and monitored. All staff and pupils participate in regular fire drills to ensure that everyone knows the evacuation procedures in the event of a fire. Paragraph 14  The school has sufficient staff in place to ensure that pupils are well supervised at all times. Proposed staffing arrangements will further reduce the ratio of pupils to staff. Procedures for effective supervision are well established across the school. Paragraph 16–16(b)  The school’s risk assessments are detailed and carefully considered. Leaders understand pupils’ needs and use this information well. There are bespoke risk assessments in place for each pupil. Staff monitor these closely and amend them as required. This ensures that risk assessments remain fit for purpose.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2)–18(3)  Leaders have effective systems in place to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. All required checks are completed before new employees start work at the school. These checks reduce risk to pupils and help to keep them safe. Paragraph 19(1)–19(4)(c)  The school does not make use of supply staff. Paragraph 20(1)–20(9)  Records show that all essential checks on the members of the proprietary body have been undertaken. Paragraph 21(1)–21(8)  The single central register is well maintained and meets statutory requirements. There are effective processes in place to monitor and check that it is up to date.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 22, 23(1)–23(2), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(d), 28(2)  There are suitable toilet facilities available for the sole use of pupils. There is an adequate supply of water for drinking and washing. Temperature checks are routinely taken to ensure that hot water does not pose a risk to pupils. Paragraph 24, 25, 26, 27, 29(1)–31(c)  The accommodation is maintained to a high standard. Learning spaces are bright, airy and in good decorative order. Leaders do not anticipate that all pupils will be onsite at any one time. Nonetheless, if this were to happen, the premises are adequate to accommodate 22 pupils.  The outdoor space is large enough to allow pupils to socialise outside.  There is a fully equipped medical room, close to a toilet.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a)–34(1)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has established a good school that sets high expectations for pupils. They are seeking to develop the school further and increase the number of pupils on roll by eight. There is a high demand for places.  Leaders recognise that this growth in pupil numbers requires them to increase their leadership team. At the time of this inspection, they were anticipating appointing a deputy headteacher for the summer term and an assistant headteacher for September 2021. This new structure will enable them to maintain effective oversight of the quality of work across the provision.  At the first standard inspection in September 2018, and in this material change inspection, the independent school standards have been met consistently. Leaders regularly evaluate their continued compliance with the independent school standards.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £71,007 to £134,900

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School details

Website www.five- rivers.org/education/schools/park-house Email address teresa.brown@five-rivers.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19–21 September 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 19 8 to 19 8 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 14 22 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 14 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 14 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 14 22

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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 14 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 7 12

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 5 12

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Information about this school

 Park House School is a small special school located in a detached bungalow in Taunton.  The school caters for pupils with emotional, social and mental health difficulties.  The school’s first standard inspection took place in September 2018. All of the independent school standards were met and the school was judged to be good.  All pupils have experienced disruption to their education, with long periods out of school due to significant trauma in their lives. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  Most pupils are children looked after.  The school uses 11 alternative providers known as partners: Conquest, Equus, AEC, Otterhead Forest School, Quayside, Project 1: Wheddon Cross, Project 1: Taunton, Make It, Reach Youth South Petherton, ClassSW and Blake Gym Bridgwater.  The ultimate aim of the school is to enable pupils to return to mainstream education when appropriate.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department of Education (DfE) during the COVID-19 pandemic to consider the school’s request for a material change. The inspection was conducted on site and remotely.  The proprietor would like to increase the school’s capacity from 14 to 22 pupils. While the current school site will accommodate the additional pupils, the proprietor has plans in place to acquire additional premises next to the school.  Off site, a range of documentation sent electronically by the headteacher relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and leadership and management was considered.  Meetings were conducted remotely with the headteacher, head of education, education adviser, school business administrator and chair of the proprietary board.  On site, the inspector met with the head of education and the school business administrator. The inspector had a tour of the premises to check that they were

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Information about this inspection

compliant with the independent school standards. The inspector checked the single central register and sampled other safeguarding records.

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Inspection team

Jen Southall, 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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