Orange Tree School

School material change inspection report

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Ellern Mede School Limited Holcombe Hill, Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 4HX Inspection date 12 September 2022

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Leaders have updated the school’s safeguarding policy following changes to government statutory guidance in September 2022. The new policy is available to parents and carers on the school’s website.  Staff have received safeguarding training at the start of the academic year. They are clear about their responsibilities and the school’s procedures. Staff are alert to pupils’ differing needs. They know how to report any concerns that they may have. Leaders have strong oversight of staff’s safeguarding training, including through regular updates.  Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe. They know who to speak to if they have any concerns. Pupils trust staff to provide them with support should they need it.  Leaders keep detailed records of reported concerns regarding pupils’ welfare. They work closely with other agencies to ensure that pupils receive the support that they

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Main inspection findings

need. Leaders prioritise pupils’ mental and physical well-being. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16  Leaders have suitable policies for health and safety in place. They conduct regular checks of the building and record these accordingly. Leaders have appropriate systems in place to assess risks, including on the school site, and to mitigate any issues found. Leaders assess the risk of educational activities that take place away from the school site and plan to mitigate them.  The building has recently been refurbished. The required fire safety checks, including fire alarms and emergency lighting, are in place. Leaders have effective systems in place to ensure they monitor site safety. For instance, leaders organise regular fire drills.  The current high staff-to-pupil ratio will support the supervision of 81 pupils if the proposed material change is approved. Class sizes are small and there is adequate staff supervision at breaktimes and lunchtimes for the proposed increase in pupil

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Main inspection findings

numbers.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Leaders understand the importance of recruiting staff. Leaders ensure checks for new staff are in line with statutory guidance.  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks accurately records the required checks on leaders, the advisory board and all staff.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school is based in a converted church and church hall. The church hall was converted in 2021 and the conversion of the church was completed in August 2022. Staff and pupils moved into the new church conversion at the start of term in September 2022. The conversion has been completed to a high standard.

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Main inspection findings

 The premises’ acoustics, lighting and toilet, washing and medical facilities are all compliant with the standards and suitable for the proposed increase in number of pupils. The washing facilities include safely regulated water supplies and suitably labelled drinking water. An outdoor space is available for recreation and physical education for the proposed number of pupils.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  The school’s leaders have a secure knowledge and understanding of the independent school standards. These standards have been met over several years. Leaders have planned effectively to cater for pupils in the new building.  Leaders are aware of the needs of their pupils. They have created a vigilant culture of safeguarding in the school to keep pupils safe. Leaders have refurbished the building

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Main inspection findings

with pupils’ well-being in mind.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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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.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 22 to 24 February 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 18 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 36 81 81

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed No change Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 36 81

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 34 77

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 34 77

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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 33 76

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 9 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3 3

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Information about this school

 Ellern Mede School provides education for pupils admitted to the Ellern Mede Ridgeway Hospital for specialist treatment. The school uses two sites: Ellern Mede Ridgeway Hospital, Holcombe Hill, London, NW7 4HX and Ellern Mede Friary Hall and Whetstone United Reform Church, which share the same site: Oakleigh Park North, London N20 9AR. The school started to use Ellern Mede Friary Hall in October 2021 when the Department for Education agreed to its use. The United Reform Church building, at the same address as Ellern Mede Friary Hall, has been refurbished and in use since September 2022.  Typically, the school caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and who have an education, health and care plan.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place in February 2022.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first material change inspection commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider Ellern Mede School’s application to make a change to its registration agreement. The requested change was to increase the number of pupils from 41 to 81.  The inspection was conducted with three days’ notice.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether particular independent school standards contained within parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 are met and likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  The inspector met with pupils and staff. He held meetings with the headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding lead, and the deputy designated safeguarding lead. He also met with the office manager responsible for recruitment and spoke to the proprietor by telephone.  The inspector toured the new premises and reviewed documentation, including that concerning safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

Mark Smith, lead inspector His Majesty’s 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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