Blooming Tree School

School material change inspection report

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Blooming Tree Pre Prep School Swarn House, 296 High Street, Acton, London W3 9BJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4  Leaders have carefully adapted the curriculum and assessment policies in order to meet the range of complex learning needs of pupils aged eight to 11. The school’s curriculum is ambitious. Leaders provide teaching in all subjects of the national curriculum. Thorough subject planning considers the needs of pupils who have education, health and care (EHC) plans for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The plans take detailed account of pupils’ different ages, abilities and interests.  Programmes for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education and relationships and sex education (RSE) have been updated. Both are likely to be appropriate for older pupils. These programmes include appropriate coverage of British values, equality and relationships. Leaders place an overriding focus on developing pupils’ independence and their social and communication skills.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have considered current RSE guidance and have ensured that policies are compliant with statutory requirements.  Leaders have a credible plan to grow the staff team and to assure the quality of education provided to pupils, including pupils aged eight to 11. Leaders have well- developed procedures to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The school’s PSHE education curriculum has been extended to include opportunities to teach pupils about how to behave safely, keep healthy, be a good friend and help others. All pupils are taught repeatedly about safe and appropriate touch as well as how to manage potential dangers and risks. Adapted plans for older pupils identify

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Main inspection findings

clearly how leaders intend to develop pupils’ social and communication skills further. The school’s PSHE education and RSE plans cover the teaching of differences, including learning about the protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act 2010.  The planned programme for religious education has also been extended to meet the needs of pupils aged eight to 11. It is likely to ensure that pupils will be taught about a range of religions, faiths and cultures. The programme is likely to further encourage mutual respect and tolerance of pupils’ own and other cultures and the faiths and beliefs of others.  The school’s curriculum policy continues to be clear that no member of staff may promote partisan views and that balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topic. The importance of impartiality features in the induction programme for new staff.  The independent school standard in this part is likely to continue to be met if the

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Main inspection findings

material changes are implemented. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 11, 12, 14 and 16  The available evidence suggests that there is a strong safeguarding culture in this school for particularly vulnerable pupils. The school’s safeguarding policy reflects the latest ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2022) statutory guidance. Leaders are fully aware of their duties and carry them out with diligence. Leaders have kept their enhanced safeguarding training up to date and trained all staff accordingly.  The school is compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. All actions identified on the latest external fire risk assessment have been completed. All the required fire safety checks are completed and are logged.  The school’s health and safety, and risk assessment policies are implemented well. The appropriate risk assessments have been updated in light of the extra floor added

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Main inspection findings

to the school’s premises. Leaders’ work to minimise any risks that pupils may encounter is effective.  The supervision of pupils is likely to continue to be suitable. All pupils will receive at least one-to-one support.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The school’s recruitment process is rigorous. All the required vetting checks on the adults working at the school have been completed. They are recorded accurately on the single central record.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  Leaders plan to close the Blooming Tree clinic and Nursery on the top floor of these premises. The space that will then become available on the top floor will provide

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Main inspection findings

enough room for up to 20 additional pupils.  The premises are clean, well maintained and secure. The requirements relating to lighting, acoustics, toilets, washing facilities and the medical room facility continue to be met. There is a suitable outdoor-play space on the top floor. Labelled drinking water supplies are available on all floors and hot water is safely regulated throughout the school.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is available online.  This requirement continues to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34  Leaders have planned effectively to extend Blooming Tree Pre Prep School to accommodate a further 20 pupils, including those aged three to 11. Leaders have a secure understanding of the independent school standards.

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Main inspection findings

 The independent school standard in this part is likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented.

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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 Primary day school for pupils with ASD

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £35,000 to £56,000

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 3 to 8 3 to 11 3 to 11

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll Up to 30 Up to 50 Up to 50

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 14 Up to 50 Number of part-time pupils None No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities All pupils No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan All pupils No change

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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 All pupils No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 1 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff None No change

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 17 60

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Information about this school

 Blooming Tree Pre Prep School is an independent special primary school catering for up to 30 pupils with ASD. All pupils have EHC plans.  The school was registered in January 2022, following a pre-registration inspection in November 2021. The school has not yet had its first full inspection.  The proprietors currently run Blooming Tree clinic, a registered early years provision (EY546136) on the top floor of the premises. They intend to close the clinic, which will provide the space for an additional 20 pupils at Blooming Tree Pre Prep School.  The proprietors also run Blooming Tree Primary School (URN 148153).

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to extend its age range from ages three to eight to ages three to 11. The inspection also considered a material change to increase the school’s maximum capacity to up to 50 pupils.  This was the school’s first material change inspection to consider these two material changes.  The inspection was announced with two days of notice.  The inspector considered whether some of the requirements in Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards are likely to continue to be met if the material changes are implemented.  The inspector met with the proprietors and senior leadership team. He met staff and pupils during his tour of the premises. He considered a wide range of evidence, including in relation to the curriculum, safeguarding and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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

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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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