The Holmewood School

School material change inspection report

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The Holmewood School London 88 Woodside Park Road, London N12 8SH and 8a Muswell Hill, London N10 3TD

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7(a) and 7(b)  The previous inspection reported that ‘the school’s designated safeguarding leaders are knowledgeable, accessible and proactive. They take safeguarding extremely seriously and facilitate a culture of vigilance’. This inspection confirms this still to be the case. Leaders continue to implement their child protection policy, updated in light of the latest statutory guidance, effectively.  Pupils say they feel safe in their school. They continue to regularly learn about how to keep safe, including when online and using their mobile phones. Paragraphs 11 and 12  The school’s suitable health and safety policy is implemented well. Actions identified in external fire risk assessment reports have been completed, and all the required fire safety checks are logged at both premises as per the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 14  Arrangements for the supervision of pupils is suitable. On average, there is an adult for every two pupils. Leaders have planned for this to continue if the number of pupils increases to 80. Paragraph 16(a) and 16(b)  The school’s suitable risk assessment policy is implemented well. Both premises, and the activities that go on within them, are thoroughly risk assessed. Suitable actions are in place to effectively mitigate the possible risks.  The independent school standards in this part are met, and are likely to continue to be met, if the material change is implemented. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Pre-employment checks on the adults working in the organisation are completed and recorded accurately on the school’s single central register, in line with statutory guidance.  The independent school standards in this part are met, and are likely to continue to

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Main inspection findings

be met, if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The lower school, also the school’s main premises, has been refurbished since the previous inspection. In particular, toilet, medical room, shower and playground facilities have all been upgraded, as has lighting throughout. The premises continue to meet all the requirements in this part.  The new upper school premises provide a tranquil, attractive setting, which pupils speak very positively about. The various outside spaces, including seating around a large pond and controlled access to a forest area, have been suitably assessed for the risks they present. Internally, all the requirements relating to lighting, acoustics and toilet, washing and medical facilities are met. Pupils access shower and changing facilities off site, as all physical education takes place in local facilities.  The new premises are larger than the previous building and are currently full, as all

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Main inspection findings

pupils aged 14 to 19 now attend this site. This provides more capacity at the lower school for the intended increase in numbers.  The independent school standards in this part are met, and are likely to continue to be met, if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  This requirement continues to be met because the school’s child protection policy is available online.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a–c)  Leaders have a thorough understanding of the independent school standards. They have planned effectively to accommodate an increase in capacity by setting up new, suitable upper school premises.  The independent school standard in this part, as in all the other parts checked, is met and likely to continue to be met, if the material change is implemented.

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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.

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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 All-through day school for pupils with ASD

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 23 to 25 January 2018

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 19 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 67 80 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed No change Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 49 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils None No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 67 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 66 Up to 80

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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 66 Up to 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 16 17

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 42 45

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Information about this school

 The Holmewood School London is an independent special day school in the London Borough of Barnet. Its main premises continue to be at 88 Woodside Park Road, London N12 8SH and its new additional premises are at 8a Muswell Hill, London N10 3TD. The school currently makes no use of its premises at 90 East End Road, London N3 2SY.  All pupils have, or are being assessed for, an education, health and care plan for their autism spectrum disorders. Almost all pupils are placed and funded by a range of local authorities.  The school is part of, and governed by, Cavendish Education Ltd. The school is overseen by a board of directors, led by a chief executive officer.  The school makes use of five external providers of further education for students in the sixth form, who attend them on a part-time basis with support. They are Barnet College, Barnet EN5 4AZ, West London College, London W14 9BL, London Academy,

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Information about this school

Larkhall SW4 6JP, Christ’s College, Finchley N2 0SE and Black Horse Workshops, London E17 6BX.  The school’s most recent inspection was a full standard inspection in January 2018.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider the school’s application to make a material change to its registration agreement. The requested change was to increase pupil numbers from 70 to 80.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice and was the first material change inspection to consider the school’s application to increase its number of pupils.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within Parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 are likely to be met if the material change is implemented.  The inspector had meetings with the executive headteacher, head of upper school, designated safeguarding leader and human resources officer. He also met with the organisation’s director for compliance. He toured both premises and reviewed relevant documentation in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk

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Information about this inspection

assessment. These included policies, procedures, logs and the single central register.  The inspector met with a group of pupils at each of the school’s sites to discuss their safety, welfare and well-being.  There were no recent responses on Ofsted’s online questionnaire, Parent View, to consider.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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