Lexden Springs

Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 1 Lexden Springs Winstree Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 0PZ Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

Lexden Springs is a community special school. It is a day and residential special school which caters for pupils with special educational needs, specifically severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism spectrum disorders.

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Information about this residential special school

There are 254 pupils on roll. The number of residential pupils is currently eight. Residential pupils can board between Monday and Friday for up to four nights. The residential provision comprises of six purpose-built houses situated in the school grounds and can accommodate up to 30 children.

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Information about this residential special school

The residential provision opened in October 2020. The head of care was appointed in September 2019 and has the relevant qualifications and experience to run the provision.

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Information about this residential special school

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

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Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

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Good

The residential special school provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress that children have made is remarkable. It has meant that the opportunities and independence this has given them will have a positive impact on them into their adult lives. Staff have worked exceptionally well with children and parents to support children’s progress and independence. One child has become independent with her personal hygiene and understanding her body, another child is trying new foods and sleeping through the night. Staff become emotional when talking about the outcomes that children have made because they care and want the best for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The residential accommodation has a warm, nurturing feel. There is a wide variety of age-appropriate games and toys for children to play with during their stays. They can play outside using the sensory play areas, or use the facilities in the school such as the therapy room. Activities are arranged to develop children’s social skills and self- confidence and to expand their opportunities to have new experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The relationships that children and staff have are extremely trusting and full of love and respect. The residential provision provides children with a nurturing and safe space to learn and grow. A parent said that the difference that staff have made to her child is life changing. Another parent said that her child is learning new skills such as listening and sharing, which is having a positive impact at home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and professionals are extremely positive about the head of care and the residential staff. Communication between the school staff and children’s families is excellent. The staff go above and beyond expectations to support the children and their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for children. Residential staff set achievable targets for children. They support children to learn personal hygiene skills and other independence targets which they can progress and take into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children in school and the residential provision do not bring mobile phones or electronic tablets into school. In the residential provision, there are no televisions. This means that children spend their time socialising with each other and learning social skills. Staff said that this has had a significant impact on children’s sleep patterns. Teachers said that children are more receptive to learning following a night in the residential provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff recognise when children have done something well. Children are praised by staff, and this was observed during the inspection. Staff use praise to support children to focus on positive behaviours. Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 3

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Safeguarding systems are implemented effectively. Concerns are shared appropriately with external agencies and parents. The designated safeguarding leads (DSLs), residential staff and the safeguarding governor meet weekly to discuss and monitor concerns. A social worker said that because of observations and records of concerns reported to her by the DSLs, she was able to provide a family with additional support.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The residential staff’s response to any safeguarding concerns is swift and protects children. All staff have undertaken appropriate safeguarding training. Residential staff discuss safeguarding in their supervision and as part of their team meetings.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A child said that she feels safe staying in the residential provision and that she can talk to staff if she is worried or upset about anything. There is information in the house explaining the role of the independent visitor, detailing that she is a safe person to speak to. Staff have introduced a social story about complaints, so that children know how to make a complaint and who to talk to if they are upset or worried.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Risks are managed well. Good-quality risk assessments support the staff to work consistently with the children. Activity risk assessments are detailed and consider children’s ages, understanding and abilities. This ensures that all children can have new experiences which are safe and positive.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children enjoy the nurturing and child-friendly environment. However, the system to monitor and manage safety checks is insufficient. The staff responsible for premises management do not demonstrate a thorough understanding of what is required. There has not been a system in place to undertake these checks, or to monitor when external agencies have completed checks. However, staff were able to obtain the certificates from the contactors during the inspection to demonstrate that equipment has been serviced and maintained.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Incidents are managed well. Incident reports are detailed and reflect causes, triggers and resolution. The head of care evaluates these records to look at patterns, trends and actions. However, the actions are not always discussed in the staff meetings to ensure that staff are all made aware of them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The headteacher and head of care are inspirational and ambitious in promoting positive experiences for children, both in school and in the residential provision. Professionals, parents and staff all speak highly of them. The staff say that they feel fully involved and valued as members of staff. Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 4 The staff receive regular supervision, which they say supports them to develop their practice. Staff attend weekly staff meetings to discuss children, care practice issues and safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment has been an issue since the residential provision opened. Recruitment days have recently taken place and the headteacher is working with agencies to recruit more staff. Staffing arrangements are appropriate to meet the needs of the children. Although all recruitment checks are made before staff start work in the school, the recording system made it difficult to verify this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been five new governors appointed since the last inspection. The chair of governors, who is also the safeguarding governor, attends weekly safeguarding meetings, visits the children in the residential provision and produces a report on her findings. She has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the school and the residential provision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders know the strengths and areas for development of the school and the residential provision. Children are clearly at the centre of practice. The staff have a sense of pride when talking about the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The two national minimum standards and the point of improvement from the last inspection have been met. Three new points of improvement have been made at this inspection. Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 5

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Recommendations

 Health and safety records should be suitably managed and available for scrutiny. Checks should take place as identified and recorded in the fire risk assessment.  Recruitment records should be suitably managed to demonstrate that staff are safe and suitable to work with children. The records should be available for scrutiny.  Actions from reviews of incidents should be recorded to demonstrate that these have been completed.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: 2582228

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Mr Simon Wall

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential special school

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Residential special school details

Email address: simonwall@lexdensprings.essex.sch.uk

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Inspectors

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector (lead) Jamie Cousins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Lexden Springs 7 to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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