Seadown School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Seadown School Seadown House, 1a Farncombe Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 2BE

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The requirements of these paragraphs were found to be met at the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. This inspection considered how well previous improvements were being sustained.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website. The policy advocates a proactive culture around safeguarding. For example, there are clear statements about training and empowering staff to recognise and respond effectively to safeguarding risks.  The school has a warm, friendly atmosphere underpinned by positive and encouraging relationships between adults and pupils. The school’s work to both keep pupils safe and promote their well-being is plain to see throughout the environment.  Safeguarding training remained a priority during national and local restrictions linked with COVID-19 (coronavirus). Staff are alert to even low-level matters that may have an

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Main inspection findings

impact on pupils’ welfare and well-being. They take prompt and appropriate action, including working with families and other professionals. Changes linked with COVID-19 and new pupils joining have recently led to an increase in activity around pupils’ welfare, health and safety. Leaders are conscious of the importance of updating record systems promptly to reflect all actions and activity to safeguard pupils.  The school continues to meet the standards in this part that were checked. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(b)  At the time of the previous monitoring inspection, the new leadership team was still in its infancy. Governance also remained in a period of transition. More time was needed to establish a fully effective model to lead and manage the school.  The school’s action plan set out a range of actions intended to strengthen leadership at different levels. This included steps to provide a greater degree of professional oversight

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Main inspection findings

of the school’s work.  Systems and structures for leadership, management and governance are establishing well. The progress leaders originally hoped to make has undoubtedly been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, leaders and governors have used this time wisely and the school has made sufficient progress in ensuring that the associated standards are now met.  The proprietor, directors, governors and headteacher are clear about their respective roles and accountabilities. They bring a professional, serious and determined approach to their work.  The school’s approach to fulfilling statutory requirements is increasingly systematic and thorough. This includes arrangements for governor visits, audits and meetings. Leaders provide or facilitate relevant training to support those who assume particular tasks or roles. Rigorous plans for the recruitment and selection of additional governors shows the

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Main inspection findings

value proprietors and other governors attach to this role.  The headteacher feels supported by the accountability systems in place and believes these are helping to improve the school. Governors have considered carefully how they can add value. They aim to bring a ‘curious’ and, if necessary, ‘critical eye’ to the work of the school while ensuring any challenge is constructive and helpful. The headteacher confirmed that, this academic year, it has become helpful to have important aspects of the school’s work ‘critically analysed’.  Leaders are ambitious and remain keen to aim above the minimum expectation of meeting the standards. They have continued to review, refresh and recreate plans for improving the school. Areas that the previous monitoring inspection found to have improved have been sustained and further developed. For example, older pupils are used to regular input about possible careers and next steps.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements in this part that were checked are now 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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school —

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Email address office@seadownschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 16 May 2019

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Information about this school

 Seadown School provides education for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Many pupils have additional needs, such as autism spectrum disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school’s previous standard inspection was in May 2019. A subsequent progress monitoring inspection was conducted in November 2019. The headteacher and deputy headteacher joined the school between the standard inspection and the first progress monitoring inspection.  Pupils are assigned to one of four classes that are mostly organised by age. The two lower school classes have mainly primary pupils, while the two upper school classes are for secondary pupils.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the second progress monitoring inspection. At the first progress monitoring inspection on 20 November 2019, the school was found to be meeting some, but not all, of the previously un-met independent school standards.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan on 2 March 2020 and the DfE subsequently accepted it on 22 April 2020.  This inspection was conducted with 30 minutes’ notice.  During the day, the inspector toured the school with the headteacher. He held discussions with the headteacher, senior leaders, staff and pupils. The inspector

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Information about this inspection

attended the weekly meeting between the proprietors and headteacher. He also spoke via webcam with the proprietors and held a telephone conversation with the chair of governors.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documentation and records linked with safeguarding and the leadership and management of the school, including governance.

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Inspection team

Clive Dunn, 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

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 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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