The Mile House Therapeutic School

The Mile House Therapeutic School Bath Road, Sulhamstead, Reading RG7 5HJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 9–9(a), 11, 12, 13, 16–16(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  The school’s child protection and safeguarding policy takes account of statutory guidance. It provides a range of helpful information and guidance, including key contacts and an explanation of terminology. Thoughtful consideration has been given to the potential specific additional vulnerabilities of pupils who may be placed at the school.  The headteacher has placed an evident priority on ensuring that staff are knowledgeable about, and trained in, safeguarding. Records of training completed and induction plans substantiate this priority. During the first week of employment, the induction process includes an introduction to health and safety procedures and a meeting with the designated safeguarding lead.  The single central record of checks on adults is maintained correctly. All the required

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Main inspection findings

checks are recorded and dated accordingly. Key staff have attended training in safer recruitment. The school business manager has additionally undertaken training in managing the single central record.  All health and safety policies are compliant and updated in accordance with national guidance issued by the Department of Education (DfE). The headteacher is pro-active in ensuring she remains up to date with latest guidance. Risk assessments for the school site and for activities such as cooking or learning off site are clear and detailed.  Individual pupil risk assessments exist in draft form and may be used as the basis for individualised risk assessments once pupils are placed at the school.  Fire safety policies and procedures are met. Staff are informed of the fire safety procedures and routine checks are completed and recorded.  As at the time of the recent pre-registration inspection, policies such as the special

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Main inspection findings

educational needs and disabilities policy and local offer, and the relationships and positive behaviour and policy, are readily available on the school website. These policies focus on positive relationships, a therapeutic approach and provision that meets the individual needs of each pupil.  The school has not yet opened to pupils. Therefore, many of the policies and practices are not yet tested in action. However, the pre-registration inspection of March 2022 identified that the school was likely to meet this part of the independent standards.  The standards considered within this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)–18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2)–19(2)(d), 19(3), 20(6)–20(6)(c), 21(1)– 21(7)(b)  The headteacher and school business manager have a thorough and precise understanding of the range of checks required on adults and the significance of these. The headteacher and the school business manager are acutely aware of safer recruitment practices and follow their school agreed policies closely. Interview records demonstrate that safeguarding is considered at every appointment.  All of the required checks have been made on current employees. Records, including the single central record, are accurate and complete. Relevant checks have been carried out on the co-chairs of the proprietor body.  There are no plans to use supply staff. Nevertheless, the headteacher and business manager are aware of their responsibilities to ensure that appropriate vetting has

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Main inspection findings

taken place, should supply staff ever be utilised.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33–33(k)  A complaints policy is published on the school website. The policy sets out how a complaint can be made, what to do and what to expect at each stage of the process. There is an emphasis on resolving concerns informally and at the earliest stage wherever possible.  To date, no complaints have been received and therefore the policy and approach have not been tested. However, the policy is helpful and fit for purpose.  The standards in this part are judged to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  The headteacher brings a wide range of experience and expertise to the role, having worked in different mainstream and special education settings. Since the pre- registration inspection, the deputy headteacher has been appointed as headteacher at another of the company’s schools. A suitably experienced deputy headteacher and special educational needs coordinator have been appointed but had not taken up post at the time of this inspection.  The headteacher has received some guidance regarding compliance with the independent school standards from a headteacher within the group who has since left her role. The headteacher has ensured her own detailed understanding of what it means to lead a successful independent school. This knowledge and understanding is demonstrated well in the school improvement plan. The plan reflects ambition to

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Main inspection findings

provide a high-quality education in a therapeutic environment, ensuring that pupils’ needs are met and that the independent school standards are fully and consistently implemented.  The proprietors have made the decision to establish a governing body and the headteacher is strongly supportive of this approach. Recruitment to the governing body has been successful and the first meeting is scheduled for the beginning of the next academic year.  The headteacher is in regular contact with the proprietors. However, as noted in the pre-registration report, this contact is ‘more about support than rigorous challenge’. Informal email trails between the headteacher and proprietors were shared with inspectors. These demonstrated a level of communication and information sharing but did not reveal the headteacher being held to account.  In conversation with the lead inspector, one of the proprietors confirmed that a

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Main inspection findings

number of actions to drive improvement and oversight are imminent. For example, an independent review has been commissioned to look at leadership, culture and values and to create an improvement plan. It is anticipated that an improvement board will be established to drive and oversee implementation of the plan.  This part of the independent school standards is not met.

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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. 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

Proprietor Calcot Services for Children Ltd

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School details

Website www.themilehousetherapeuticschool.co.uk

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School details

Email address themilehousechool@csfc.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 The school was registered by the Department for Education in April 2022. The school plans to open to pupils in September 2022.  A pre-registration inspection took place in March 2022, when the school was judged likely to meet all parts of the independent school standards.  Pupils who attend the school will have social, emotional and mental health needs and/or a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and will have an education, health and care plan.  The proprietor is Calcot Services for Children Limited, which also runs a number of children’s homes across Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Hampshire. The Mile House Therapeutic School is one of three schools belonging to the proprietor.

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Information about this inspection

 This was an emergency inspection carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education as a result of concerns. The inspection was carried out with 15 minutes notice.  The inspectors checked the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the suitability of staff, the manner in which complaints are handled and the quality of leadership and management.  Not all of the independent school standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.  The inspectors held meetings with the headteacher, who is currently the designated safeguarding leader and the school business manager. Inspectors held a telephone conversation with one of the proprietors.  Inspectors checked a range of policies and documents, including the school’s single

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Information about this inspection

central record. They also reviewed the school’s website and other records regarding the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff.

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Inspection team

Stephen Long, team inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector

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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 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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