Brompton Hall School

Monitoring visit residential special school report

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Brompton Hall School Brompton Hall School, High Street, Brompton-by-Sawdon, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO13 9DB

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Context of the inspection

This monitoring visit was carried out to examine behaviour management and restraint practice in the residential provision of the school. In November 2020, the local authority raised concerns about these matters within the school. This visit was aligned to a ‘no formal designation’ section 8 school inspection undertaken by Her Majesty’s Inspectors.

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Context of the inspection

The visit took place over two days and was carried out on site. The inspector spoke to several children, care staff and other staff and read and evaluated relevant documents.

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Context of the inspection

Children are taught in ‘bubbles’ to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 (coronavirus). Boys in the residential provision form one bubble. They receive online teaching four days per week, supported by the residential care staff.

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Summary of the findings made

Children enjoy staying in the residential provision. They particularly like the activities, the staff and being with their friends. Some of the usual routines are relaxed, due to the reduced number of boys staying each night. Children make the most of the current arrangements. However, they understand that this is a temporary change to their usual routine. The high regard shown by the children for the residential provision means that they attend school regularly. This is good for children’s social, emotional and educational well-being.

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Summary of the findings made

Children develop strong and trusting relationships with staff. Many boys stay at the school for a long time and know their carers well. Children usually respond positively to requests from staff. They have confidence in their carers and are happy to ask them for guidance and advice. This means that children learn new skills to manage their own frustrations. This supports the children’s development. Inspection Report Brompton Hall School, 10/02/2021 Page 2 of 5 The behaviour of children in the residential provision is excellent. Staff use their positive relationships with children to encourage good behaviour. This is effective. Children know that their behaviour is good. They are proud of their successes and their self-esteem grows. For some children, this is evidence of significant progress.

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Summary of the findings made

Restraint is rarely used in the residential provision. Staff use their knowledge of each child to de-escalate potential incidents. They help children to learn new ways of coping with their emotions. This means that children become increasingly able to resolve their own difficulties. Older boys told the inspector that they had learned how to stay calm during their time at the school. They attribute this to the help they receive from the staff.

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Summary of the findings made

Staff are trained in physical restraint and they have continued to refresh this training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residential staff know in what circumstances they can restrain a child. They use minimal force for the shortest period to prevent children from harming themselves or others. This means that the approach to behaviour management within the residential provision is effective.

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Summary of the findings made

Restraint records completed by staff should include the views of the child. There were two occasions when there was no evidence in these records of children being spoken to. There was no oversight of these records by managers and so this was not rectified promptly. This means that if the child was unhappy about the way they were held, they had not been able to share their views. This does not give the child a sense that their experiences are important.

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Summary of the findings made

The school’s behaviour management policy does not comply with national minimum standards for residential special schools. The headteacher accepts that this document must be amended.

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residential special schools:

 The school has, and consistently implements, a written policy on managing behaviour, including promoting good behaviour. This policy includes measures to combat bullying, including cyberbullying, and to promote positive behaviour; school rules; disciplinary sanctions; when restraint, including reasonable force, is to be used and how this will be recorded and managed; and arrangements for searching children and their possessions. (National minimum standard 12.1)  All children and staff are given an opportunity to discuss with a relevant adult (who was not directly involved) within 24 hours incidents of restraint, including reasonable force, they have been involved in, witnessed or been affected by. (National minimum standard 12.5) Inspection Report Brompton Hall School, 10/02/2021 Page 3 of 5

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Information about this school

Brompton Hall School is a local authority maintained residential special school for 70 boys, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. All children have education, health and care plans, reflecting social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Children are between eight and 16 years of age when they attend the school. The residential provision accommodates up to 43 children, offering weekly boarding places. There is capacity for a further 27 boys to have extended day placements. There are three residential units within the main building and one residential unit for younger children in the grounds of the school. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the residential service currently operates from Monday to Thursday during term time. At the time of this visit, there were 21 children staying in the boarding provision. There were no children attending the extended day provision. Inspection Report Brompton Hall School, 10/02/2021 Page 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 121764 Social care unique reference number SC007923 DfE registration number 815

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School details

This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

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School details

The inspection was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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School details

Type of school Residential special school Number of boarders on roll 25 Gender of boarders Boys Age range of boarders 8 to 16 years Headteacher Sharon Young Date of previous boarding inspection 27 January 2020 Telephone number 01723 859121 Email address headteacher@bromptonhall.n-yorks.sch.uk Inspection Report Brompton Hall School, 10/02/2021 Page 5 of 5 guidance 'raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.co.uk/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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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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