The Haven School

School material change inspection report

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Wolverhampton Road, Stafford, Staffordshire ST17 9DJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 11  The school’s health and safety policy is comprehensive. It details individual roles and responsibilities to ensure that the policy is implemented and adhered to. The policy includes the health and safety arrangements for the premises and accommodation. Leaders have considered the implications for the proposed additional accommodation to keep pupils and staff as safe as possible.  A tour of the proposed additional accommodation demonstrated that leaders are ensuring that the building will adhere to the arrangements set out in the policy. Building works are yet to be completed. However, they are on track to be completed to an acceptable health and safety standard. The accommodation will be secured by boundary fencing and benefit from Detect, Distinguish and Alert (DDA) technology.  The school is likely to meet this standard if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 12  A fire risk assessment has been carried out and further checks will be undertaken to ensure safety before the school moves into the additional accommodation. Regular checks on firefighting equipment and fire safety exercises are recorded in the logbooks for the business village in which the accommodation is located. Independent companies are engaged to carry out appropriate fire safety checks.  Currently, leaders ensure that staff are trained in basic fire safety and understand their responsibilities when evacuating the school. All such events are recorded for the main site. The fire logbook shows how regular fire drills and fire safety checks will be completed.  The school is likely to meet this standard if the material change is implemented. Paragraph 16, 16(a) and 16(b)  The risk assessment policy sets out how risk assessments will be undertaken. A sample of risk assessments, including for individual pupils and those related to

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Main inspection findings

COVID-19 (coronavirus), show that staff meticulously follow the guidance of the policy. The assessments detail potential hazards and the actions needed to mitigate any potential risk or harm.  Currently, the proprietor is liaising closely with the developer to ensure that all elements of risk in the construction of the accommodation are considered and adequately dealt with, to ensure the safety of pupils and staff.  The school is likely to meet these standards if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 23(2), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(1)(c), 24(2), 24(3)  Plans for the accommodation include suitable toilet facilities for staff and pupils. A medical room will be situated next to a toilet and will have appropriate washing facilities.  There will be suitable changing accommodation and showers provided for pupils who participate in physical education.  The school is likely to meet these standards if the material change is implemented. Paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  While works are ongoing, the proprietor undertakes regular visits to the site. Plans and recorded discussions of governors’ meetings evidence diligence in ensuring that the premises and accommodation adhere to all required health and safety legislation.  Planned teaching spaces include reference to suitable acoustic conditions and both

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Main inspection findings

indoor and outdoor lighting to ensure the safety of pupils and staff when entering and leaving the building. Teaching spaces are to benefit from natural light through large windows.  The school is likely to meet this standard if the material change is implemented. Paragraphs 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)  Pupils will have access to suitable drinking facilities. Leaders ensure that drinking water signs are in place in the current building and will be in place by the relevant taps in the additional accommodation. Temperature controls on hot taps will ensure that there is no risk of scalding. There will be washing facilities in the toilets and in the medical room.  The school is likely to meet these standards if the material change is implemented. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  Suitable outdoor play space is identified in the plans. The space is likely to provide

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Main inspection findings

adequate room for pupils to play and to undertake physical education. A planned indoor space is also allocated for physical education.  The school is likely to meet the standards if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and leaders are knowledgeable and committed to providing a good education for the school’s pupils. They demonstrate strong attention to detail in ensuring that the school consistently meets the independent school standards. The proprietor provides considerable expertise and support for school leaders and staff. She has been highly diligent in identifying a suitable location to enable the school to expand in order to meet the need to accommodate additional pupils.  Leaders make promoting pupils’ well-being and safety their top priority. They do this by providing clear leadership and ensuring that all staff are comprehensively trained to provide the right support for pupils when they need it.  The school is likely to meet these standards if the material change is implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor and leaders ensure that the school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. There is an accessibility plan in place that provides details of how the school intends to improve educational provision, the physical environment and the provision of information.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 10–12 March 2020

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 19 11 to 19 11 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 25 45 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 24 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 24 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 24 45

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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 24 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 6 7

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 7 9

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Information about this school

 The school opened in May 2016. Its last full inspection was in March 2020, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be good.  The Haven School is an independent special school for young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan for social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  Many of the learners have experienced significant gaps in formal education and often arrive at the school with considerably low starting points.  The school setting provides a therapeutic approach to learning, with the support of a clinical psychologist. It currently provides for up to 25 young people, some of whom are looked after.  Pupils are referred to the school by the commissioning local authority. All pupils have an EHC plan.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) in response to an application by the school to increase the number of pupils on roll from 25 to 35. The school wishes to add additional premises to enhance curriculum opportunities and to provide greater scope to promote the well-being and emotional health of the pupils. During the visit, the proprietor requested that the number of pupils on roll be increased to 45.  The additional premises are located at the Dunston Business Village, Stafford Road, Dunston ST18 9AB, three miles from the main site. They will provide purpose-built classrooms and office space. As a result of the pandemic and delays in the supply of building materials, the works are not yet complete. The school is planning to use the new building from December 2021.  The school plans to increase capacity from the current 25 to 45 in a staged process from December 2021 to July 2022.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection focused on whether the premises would be likely to meet the relevant welfare, health and safety and premises and accommodation standards in Part 3 and Part 5 of the independent school standards if the material change is implemented.  This was the school’s second material change inspection.  The inspector met with the proprietor and the headteacher.  A tour of the proposed additional premises and accommodation was undertaken with the proprietor and headteacher, accompanied by the building developer.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documents, including the school’s safeguarding policy and procedures, and documents and policies relating to welfare, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessments.

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Inspection team

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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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