Hope House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Hope House School Barnby Road, Balderton, Newark, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire NG24 3NE

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  At the previous inspection, arrangements to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare were not effective. Staff had not had training in how to use the school’s online system to record concerns. The school’s new health-and-safety policy had not been approved by trustees. Issues related to fire safety identified previously had not been resolved. Staff had not been trained to complete accurate risk assessments.  Leaders have had relevant and up-to-date safeguarding training. They have reviewed the safeguarding policy recently to ensure that it reflects the latest national guidance. This policy has been read by staff, so that they understand their responsibilities regarding safeguarding. The safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website.  Staff have completed training recently, including in relation to online safety and peer-on-

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Main inspection findings

peer abuse. They know how to spot the signs that a pupil may be at risk. Staff who are new to the school receive safeguarding training as part of their induction programme. The proprietor has made its expectations for professional conduct clear in a new booklet that is given to all staff.  The system for recording safeguarding incidents is now well established. Staff know how to use this online system to report concerns about pupils.  Pupils’ safeguarding records are detailed and show that leaders take timely action to support pupils. Leaders work effectively with local safeguarding partners to secure additional support for pupils.  Pupils are positive about the school and feel safe. They say that they have an adult they can talk to if they are anxious about something.  Leaders have carried out appropriate safeguarding checks of an alternative provider that some pupils have recently started to attend each week.

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Main inspection findings

 Permanently employed staff are trained to intervene safely if a pupil needs to be restrained physically. However, leaders do not ensure that staff always record the information necessary following an incident. Some records do not report the de- escalation techniques used or the views of pupils involved.  The daily report home for each pupil does not always inform parents and carers about any incidents involving their children that are a cause for concern, including safeguarding incidents. This is contrary to the school’s policy.  Staff know how to report a concern they might have about the behaviour of an adult that might put a pupil at risk of harm. However, leaders do not always raise these concerns with the appropriate authorities as quickly as they should.  Leaders have appointed an external company to support and advise in writing effective health and safety policies. These policies are still in the process of being completed.

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Main inspection findings

They have not been agreed by trustees. Draft policies do not include procedures to ensure that water is of an appropriate quality and temperature.  A new maintenance book is used by staff to log any health and safety issues. Leaders check this book daily and record their actions to resolve the issues identified.  Leaders have ensured that suitable fire safety arrangements are in place. They have responded appropriately to each action required following the most recent fire risk assessment. Fire extinguishers are attached securely to the walls in each building and are available for use in the event of a fire. School maintenance staff complete regular checks of fire warning systems and fire detection equipment to ensure that there are no issues.  Leaders have not ensured that there is a comprehensive and up-to-date risk assessment policy that reflects the current setting. The risk assessment policy on the school’s

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Main inspection findings

website is out of date. A new draft policy considers the school’s site but does not include procedures for risk assessments for pupils. A separate policy outlines arrangements for educational visits and trips. As a result of these multiple policies, leaders’ arrangements for managing risk are confused.  Staff have had training in writing and interpreting risk assessments for individual pupils. These risk assessments are detailed. However, pupils’ risk assessments are not reviewed routinely in response to incidents of concern, to ensure that the strategies to support pupils are still appropriate. This puts the welfare and safety of pupils at risk.  The school does not meet the requirements of all the independent school standards in this part. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 28(1), 28(1)(d)  The temperature of hot water in washing facilities is not regulated. Leaders have not

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Main inspection findings

taken swift action to rectify this issue, even though they have known about the problem for some time. They do not check the temperature of the hot water often enough to make sure that it does not pose a scalding risk to users. Leaders have not implemented a suitable risk assessment to reduce the likelihood of pupils being harmed.  The school does not meet the requirements of all the independent school standards in this part. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(h)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that leaders provided local authorities with annual reports to show how funding provided by these authorities for each pupil placed at the school was being used. Leaders now keep detailed records of how much money they receive for individual pupil and how they spend it. Leaders provide this information to relevant local authorities each year.  The school meets the requirements of all the independent school standards in this part.

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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)  At the previous inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that the independent school standards were met in full.  The proprietor has not taken sufficient action to ensure that the school meets all the independent school standards that were judged as not met at the previous inspection. Standards relating to pupils’ welfare, health and safety remain unmet. The inspector has identified standards relating to the premises that are no longer met.  The proprietor has taken steps to improve the school, including the appointment of an interim headteacher. Staff are positive about the changes that have taken place under this new leadership. However, many actions are still in progress or have not had time to be implemented effectively.  The school does not meet the requirements of all the independent school standards in

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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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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

Type of school Other independent special 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

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 2

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £45,000 to £75,000

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School details

Email address hopeadmin@hopehouseschool.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 28 to 30 January 2020

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Information about this school

 Hope House School is an independent special school. The school is situated in Newark, Nottinghamshire.  The school admits pupils aged five to 19 who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Many pupils have a range of behavioural, social, emotional and mental health difficulties.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school uses Dukeries RDA Centre for alternative provision. Pupils visit this provision on a weekly rota. This provider is unregistered.  An interim headteacher joined the school in September 2021.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 28 to 30 January 2020 and found the school to be inadequate.  The principal was not present during the inspection.

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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.  A progress monitoring inspection took place on 2 March 2021. Some of the independent school standards checked during the inspection were not met.  The school submitted an action plan indicating how leaders would tackle the unmet standards. This plan was accepted by Ofsted in July 2021.  The inspector held meetings with the interim headteacher, the pupil manager and the education manager. She spoke with the health and safety consultant and the business consultant. The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body.  The inspector held discussions with five teaching staff and five support staff, and spoke

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Information about this inspection

with four pupils.  The inspector spoke with a representative of Nottinghamshire local authority on the telephone.  The inspector toured the school site to check the fire safety arrangements, accompanied by the interim headteacher and the site manager.  The inspector reviewed a range of school policies and other documentation, including pupils’ safeguarding records, pupils’ risk assessments, information relating to health and safety and staff training records.

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Inspection team

Rachel Tordoff, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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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– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(h) where a pupil wholly or partly funded by a local authority (except where funding is solely for free of charge early years provision in accordance with the duty contained in section 7 of the Childcare Act 2006) is registered at the school, an annual account of income received and expenditure incurred by the school in respect of that pupil is provided to the local authority and, on request, to the Secretary of State. 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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Part 6. Provision of information

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Part 6. Provision of information

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Part 6. Provision of information

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Part 6. Provision of information

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Part 6. Provision of information

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Part 6. Provision of information

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