Wrenfield Learning Centre

School pre-registration inspection report

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Wrenfield Learning Centre Dalton Piercy Road, Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool TS27 3HS

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1)-2(2)(b)  Leaders’ curriculum plan is ambitious for pupils. It has breadth and depth and includes a wide range of subjects. For pupils in the secondary phase, this can lead to GCSE accreditation.  Curriculum plans are supportive of fundamental British values. A proposed assembly plan reinforces leaders’ commitment to democracy, the rule of law, mutual respect and tolerance.  Plans are adaptable to the needs of the pupils who are placed at the school. Leaders intend that pupils will be assessed on entry to determine their exact needs, and the curriculum will be built around them.  Leaders have thought carefully about how to meet pupils’ personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education needs. Plans for this area set out very clearly what is to be taught with regard to respect and tolerance.  Leaders have made arrangements to ensure that pupils are able to access impartial,

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Main inspection findings

aspirational careers guidance. Paragraphs 2(A)(1)-2(A)(1)(b), 2A(1)(d)-2(A)(2)  A policy for the provision of relationships education and, for secondary pupils, also for sex education, is in place. Leaders have ensured that the policy is in line with statutory guidance. The policy also makes provision for the requirements relating to communication and consultation with parents. Paragraphs 2(2)(h), 3-3(j), 4  Leaders intend to appoint teachers with qualified teacher status, and teaching assistants with qualifications and experience relevant to the role of supporting pupils who have suffered, and continue to suffer the effects of, trauma.  Leaders intend that teachers’ subject knowledge and skills, and teaching assistants’ skills and experience, will enable pupils to make as much progress as they are able.  There are clear arrangements in place to support this process through the use of a range of assessment methods.

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Main inspection findings

 It is likely that these standards will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5-5(d)(iii)  Leaders have ensured that curriculum plans for PSHE include specific and unequivocal requirements to teach matters relating to the protected characteristics and equalities.  PSHE plans also include specific content relating to the fundamental British values as required in this part. This incorporates tolerance and respect, including for other cultures, faiths and traditions.  One of leaders’ priorities is to work with the school’s pupils to develop their self- knowledge, esteem and confidence. These matters, too, are threaded through curriculum plans  There are plans to enable pupils to engage with the local community in a range of possible activities and projects.  Leaders are alive to the risks of pupils’ exposure to partisan political views. Measures are in place to preclude the possibility of this happening.

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Main inspection findings

 It is likely that these standards will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7-7(b), 9-9(c), 10, 13, 14  Leaders’ policies, and their understanding of practice, means that arrangements for safeguarding the welfare of pupils are likely to be effective. The safeguarding policy is in line with government guidance.  Leaders have thought carefully about the appropriate approach to take with supporting pupils in their behaviour, drawing on the experience of other similar schools in The Witherslack Group. This is also the case for policy and practice relating to anti-bullying, first aid and the supervision of pupils. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16  Leaders have also drawn on the proprietor body’s expertise and experience with regard to health and safety, risk assessment and fire safety. Documentation demonstrates that, if implemented, leaders’ welfare arrangements will be robust. Paragraph 15  Leaders’ admissions and attendance registers contain virtually all of the required

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Main inspection findings

information. It was noted during the inspection that leaders’ management information system does not make it easy to record what changes have been made to the admissions register, who by and when. The proprietor body’s central administration team started working on making this a less complex process during the inspection.  It is likely that these standards will be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)-18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(3), 20(6)-20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1)- 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b)-21(4), 21(6)-21(7)(b)  Leaders have a secure grasp of safer recruitment requirements. They are supported in this by the proprietor body’s company and its central human resources team.  The single central record is The Witherslack Group’s template. It contains all of the required checks. Paragraphs 19(2)-19(2)(d)(ii), 21(5)-21(5)(c)  Leaders do not intend to use supply staff. If necessity demanded it, however, they

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Main inspection findings

understand the safer recruitment requirements of government guidance.  It is likely that the standards in this part will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1)-23(1)(c), 24(1)-24(2), 25-29(1)(b).  The school building is a new build and, as such, is subject to current building regulations and controls. However, at the point of inspection, the building work is unfinished and there remains a substantial amount to do before it is ready to admit pupils. As a result, it was not possible to inspect the premises against the independent school standards.  From the work which has been completed, it is clear that the premises are being built and fitted out to a high standard and that, when finished, the school will be an attractive place to learn.  Due to the fact that the building is unfinished, it is unlikely that these standards will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)-32(1)(c), 32(1)(f)-32(2)(a), 32(2)(b)(ii), 32(2)(d), 32(3)-32(3)(f)  The school’s website is under construction. Leaders have a clear understanding of the information which must be published, provided and made available. All required information will be published on the school’s website, or otherwise provided and made available to parents.  The school’s safeguarding policy will be published on the school’s website.  It is likely that these standards will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33-33(k)  The complaints policy is that of The Witherslack Group. It includes all of the required content.  It is likely that these standards will be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)-34(1)(c)  Leaders have a strong understanding of the requirements of the independent school standards. Their supporting documentation is robust and often drawn from the collective experience of the proprietor body’s group of schools.  In discussion, leaders demonstrated that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the independent school standards. The situation regarding the incomplete building is a matter of delays in the process, exacerbated by external factors, and is not a reflection of leaders’ ability to ensure that premises are of an acceptable standard.  It is likely that these standards will be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school’s accessibility plan is fit for purpose.  It is likely that this standard will be met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely to meet the requirements of the schedule to The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements, as set out in the annex of this report.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Email address wrenfieldLC@witherslackgroup.co.uk

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils N/A 7 to 16 7 to 16 Number of pupils on the school roll N/A 6 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils N/A Girls Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age N/A 6 Number of part-time pupils N/A 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities N/A 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan N/A Not known

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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 N/A Not known

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff N/A 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff N/A 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision N/A 5

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Information about this proposed school

 The school intends to cater for a small group of female pupils with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities. It is expected that these needs will be particularly related to trauma-informed social, emotional and mental health.  The school is set in pleasant grounds which will provide ample opportunity for play, PE and socialising.  The school does not intend to use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at two days’ notice and was commissioned by the Department for Education.  The inspector met a regional director and the project manager for The Witherslack Group, the headteacher and the school’s business manager. The inspector spoke on the telephone with the chair of the proprietor body.  A substantial amount of building work was taking place on site to bring the premises to a state of readiness. While much of the work is completed, and there is a planned end date, the premises are not ready to admit pupils.

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Inspection team

Steve Shaw, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 22 The standards about the premises of and accommodation at the school are those contained in this part.  23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 23(1)(a) suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils; – 23(1)(b) separate toilet facilities for boys and girls aged 8 years or over are provided except where the toilet facility is provided in a room that can be secured from the inside and that is intended for use by one pupil at a time; and – 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.  23(2) Where separate facilities are provided under sub-paragraph (1)(a) for pupils who are disabled, they may also be used by other pupils, staff, supply staff, volunteers and visitors, whether or not they are disabled.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including— – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and – 24(1)(c) where a school caters for pupils with complex needs, additional medical accommodation which caters for those needs.  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).  24(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c), a pupil has “complex needs” if the pupil has profound and multiple learning difficulties in addition to other significant

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

difficulties, such as a physical disability or sensory impairment, which require provision which is additional to or different from that generally required by children of the same age in schools other than special schools or by children with special requirements.  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  26 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the acoustic conditions and sound insulation of each room or other space are suitable, having regard to the nature of the activities which normally take place therein.  27 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 27(a)the lighting in each room or other internal space is suitable, having regard to

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

the nature of the activities which normally take place therein; and – 27(b)external lighting is provided in order to ensure that people can safely enter and leave the school premises.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that— – 28(1)(a) suitable drinking water facilities are provided; – 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water; – 28(1)(c) cold water supplies that are suitable for drinking are clearly marked as such; and – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.  28(2) The facilities provided under sub-paragraph (1)(a) will be suitable only if— – 28(2)(a) they are readily accessible at all times when the premises are in use; and – 28(2)(b) they are in a separate area from the toilet facilities.  29 (1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

outdoor space is provided in order to enable— – 29(1)(a) physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum; and – 29(1)(b) pupils to play outside. 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 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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