SMS Changing Lives School

SMS Changing Lives Wickentree Lane, Manchester M35 9AY

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The proprietor body has ensured that the school has an appropriate and up-to-date safeguarding policy in place. This policy has been reviewed and takes account of the current guidance from the Secretary of State. The policy is available on the school’s website.  All staff have received appropriate, up-to-date safeguarding training. New staff undergo training in safeguarding as part of their induction programme. Staff understand the procedures for responding to any safeguarding concerns. Leaders have put in place systems for recording concerns and subsequent actions.  Leaders provide all staff with a handbook which sets out the key information staff need to carry out their roles effectively. The information includes a staff code of conduct. Leaders have ensured that all staff have read and understood the staff code of conduct. They have also explained to staff the potential consequences of any

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Main inspection findings

breaches of this code.  Pupils who spoke with the inspector said that they feel well cared for and safe while in school.  Leaders are aware of their duty to share any child protection and/or safeguarding concerns in a timely way with the local authority and other relevant bodies. Paragraph 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c)  There is a written behaviour policy which complies with statutory requirements. This policy sets out leaders’ expectations for pupils’ behaviour, the procedures for dealing with misbehaviour and the sanctions which are to be used. Leaders keep written records of any incidents of poor behaviour.  Leaders set clear expectations for how they want teaching staff to manage pupils’ behaviour. The school’s specialist behaviour team provides teaching staff with ongoing support. This support helps teaching staff, particularly new and inexperienced staff, manage any incidents of poor pupil behaviour appropriately.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have taken account of staff expertise, as well as learning from any incidents in school, to inform the school’s ongoing behaviour management training programme for staff. Paragraph 13  The proprietor body has ensured that the school has a written first-aid policy in place. Leaders have ensured that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner. There are nominated first aiders on both school sites who have up-to-date, suitable qualifications. Other staff have received basic first-aid training. There are sufficient, appropriate first-aid resources provided. Leaders ensure that all incidents and accidents are recorded. Paragraph 14  There are sufficient staff to supervise the pupils who attend each school site throughout the school day. Paragraph 16(a), 16(b)  There is a written risk assessment policy in place. Leaders have undertaken risk assessments in relation to activities that could pose a risk of harm to pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have considered potential risks in relation to the management of the behaviour of individual pupils. They have plans in place which set out actions to reduce these potential risks.  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(2)(f)  The proprietor body has ensured that all the required checks are carried out before appointment to ensure that staff are suitable to work with pupils.  All of the required information is recorded in the school’s single central record. Paragraph 19(2), 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)  The school does not currently employ supply staff. The proprietor body knows the checks that it must carry out on supply staff should it employ any in the future.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 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 school keeps the records of the checks that they have carried out on staff in electronic form. The school is able to reproduce these in legible form.  The 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 leaders have ensured that the school continues to meet all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection.  The proprietor body and leaders have ensured that the school’s policies and procedures for safeguarding, behaviour, first aid, risk assessment and supervision comply with the independent school standards. They also carry out all of the required

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Main inspection findings

checks to reassure themselves of the suitability of staff to work with pupils.  Leaders meet frequently with the managing director of the proprietor body to provide regular updates on the work of the school.  Leaders take any concerns or complaints seriously. They use the learning from these as an opportunity to further improve the school’s work. For example, they have worked closely with local authority officers to review the school’s safeguarding arrangements and provide further training for staff.  Staff who spoke to the inspector reported that there are effective arrangements in place for safeguarding pupils, maintaining good standards of behaviour and the proper supervision of pupils. They value the additional training and support that has been provided recently to help them to carry out their roles effectively.  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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £38,000 to £58,000

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 4–6 February 2020

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Information about this school

 The last standard inspection took place in February 2020.  A material change inspection took place in November 2020. This inspection considered proposed changes to the school’s age range and an increase to the maximum number of pupils on roll.

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Information about this inspection

 This emergency inspection was commissioned by the Department of Education (DfE).  The inspection was carried with 20 minutes’ notice.  The DfE requested that the inspector report on the independent school standards in respect of the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors, and leadership and management.  During this inspection, the inspector met with the headteacher and the assistant headteacher. The inspector held a meeting with the managing director of the proprietor body. The inspector observed pupils’ behaviour during the school day. The inspector spoke formally with some pupils and spoke to a range of staff. The inspector scrutinised policies and other information relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and the checks on the suitability of staff. The documents checked included the school’s safeguarding policy.

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Inspection team

Pippa Jackson Maitland, 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 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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