Red Moor School

School material change inspection report

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Red Moor School Red Moor School, Churchtown Farm, Lanlivery, Cornwall PL30 5BT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Arrangements to safeguard pupils are comprehensive and effective. The safeguarding policy is published on the school website and pays close regard to the latest government guidance.  Leaders work with other agencies to ensure that pupils are properly safeguarded; when appropriate, they challenge other agencies about individual cases to avoid drift and delay. Leaders handle potential safeguarding issues swiftly and with sensitivity.  Staff receive regular safeguarding training. The head of safeguarding for the school’s central group, and the chair of governors, provide pertinent challenge and support to leaders on safeguarding matters. Paragraph 11, 12, 14 16  Health and safety responsibilities are taken very seriously by leaders, who ensure that required checks are undertaken rigorously and in a timely manner. Cleaning and other chemicals are locked safely away, and the school gives careful thought to maintaining

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Main inspection findings

the security of the keys for these areas.  Health and safety audits, including those of the new and refurbished buildings, demonstrate the care given to pupils’ safety by leaders and the premises manager.  Leaders ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order (2005). Regular fire call point tests are held, and fire drills take place six times per year. Extinguishers are checked and are in appropriate positions throughout the school. Fire exits are clear and accessible, including in the refurbished buildings.  The school assesses risk robustly. In so doing, leaders are aware that the extensive site presents opportunities for adventure and for activities where there is potential for danger. Risk assessments for activities around the school site and for other activities accentuate the importance of good supervision rather than restricting pupils’ educational and life experiences. Pupils experience a good level of adult supervision,

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Main inspection findings

which the school intends to maintain if the material change is approved.  The school is likely to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18  Supported by the school’s central group, leaders undertake meticulous checks on potential appointees prior to their starting at the school. Careful checks are undertaken on an applicant’s employment history, including appropriate checks if they have spent more than three months outside the United Kingdom.  Leaders have a very thorough understanding of safer recruitment procedures. Paragraph 19  Where supply staff are employed, the school ensures that they produce the necessary documents for checking they are suitable to work with children before they begin work. Paragraph 20  All required checks have been carried out in relation to the proprietor body.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 21  The single central record is very clear and well maintained, demonstrating that all required checks are carried out on all adults who come into contact with children at the school, including governors and contractors.  The school is likely to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 22, 23, 28  Leaders check that the premises are safe for pupils. Drinking water is provided at points around the school, and the premises manager regularly checks the temperature of the hot water.  Accessible toilet, shower and washing facilities are bright, clean and in good order. Current provision of these facilities is ample for a material change to 70 pupils. Paragraph 24-27, 29-31  The new and refurbished premises are adjacent to the main school. The new buildings

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Main inspection findings

are warm, clean and very suitable for pupils’ use. The refurbished buildings are now of high quality. The school intends that younger pupils will be housed here. These buildings will make a very pleasant learning base.  In total, the school now has 16 classrooms, which will be more than ample to house 70 pupils as requested in the material change.  The school accommodation in the round is very well maintained. It has seen significant and purposeful investment to ensure that the site is able to present the best possible learning environment for the pupils for whom the school caters.  The outdoor space covers a large acreage and presents opportunities for games, bush craft, climbing, and learning in the outdoors. The accommodation includes several rooms for therapy.  The premises manager undertakes regular and thorough checks across the premises and site to identify and deal with potential hazards.

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Main inspection findings

 The school is likely to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  A strong leadership team has given considerable thought to the expansion of the school and has planned for this meticulously.  Plans are in place to employ and induct several more teachers and teaching assistants to meet the needs of a larger number of children.  Leaders have a clear understanding of work necessary to meet the independent school standards in the context of a larger number of pupils.  Governors hold leaders to account in depth for the performance of the school, and for safeguarding.  The members of the schools’ group have thought carefully about the type of school they want for their pupils and are working to good effect to provide this for a larger group.  At the standard inspection in September 2021, and in this material change inspection,

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Main inspection findings

the independent school standards have been met consistently.  The school’s central group has recently submitted an amended material change request so that pupils of up to 18 years of age are able to complete the curriculum currently offered up to Year 11. The curriculum will not alter; this change is to enable some pupils with very specific needs to benefit more fully from the school’s offer at a pace more geared to their individual circumstances.  The school is likely to meet the independent school standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £46,340 to £146,340

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School details

Email address enquiries@redmoorschool.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 15 to 17 September 2021

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 16 5 to 18 5 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 36 70 70

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recommendation

 Reason for inspector’s recommendations: The site and premises are, following a new build of two rooms and refurbishment of two more, suitable for 70 pupils as requested in the material change request. The school’s central group has recently submitted an amended material change request so that pupils of up to 18 years of age are able to complete the curriculum currently offered up to Year 11. The curriculum will not alter; this change is to enable some pupils with very specific needs to benefit more fully from the school’s offer at a pace more geared to their individual circumstances.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 36 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 36 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 36 70

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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 36 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 17 35

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 23 50

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Information about this school

 The school opened in September 2020 and received its first standard inspection in September 2021.  The proprietor body, Acorn Care and Education, operates a number of schools across the country. There is also a local board of governors, chaired by the regional director, which includes the headteachers of the proprietor body’s five schools in the South West.  The vast majority of the pupils are boys.  The school provides education for pupils with an education, health and care plan, specifically for those with cognitive and learning needs; specific learning difficulties; moderate learning difficulties; behavioural, emotional and social development needs; speech, language and communication needs; and autistic spectrum disorder.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this material change inspection in response to the school’s request to increase the number of approved pupil places to 70. The school’s request also includes the approval of new and refurbished premises on the school site to accommodate the additional numbers of pupils.  The school has 36 pupils on roll. The additional premises will be used for primary provision.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the designated safeguarding leader, the premises manager and the chair of governors, who in his role as regional director is also the proprietor body’s representative.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documents provided by the school, including policies relating to safeguarding and health and safety, and the single central record. The inspector met with leaders to discuss the material change request and had a tour of the whole school site.

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Inspection team

Bradley Simmons, 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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