Westbourne School

Westbourne School Huthwaite School, Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 2EL

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(b)  The proprietor has ensured that all secondary-age pupils are provided with a suitable relationships and sex education (RSE) curriculum. Leaders have undertaken an audit to check that this RSE curriculum covers all the statutory requirements.  Among other RSE-related topics, pupils learn about sexual orientation, gender identity, inappropriate contact and consent.  The school meets the requirement of the independent school standard that was checked in this part. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  Leaders have ensured that the safeguarding and welfare of pupils are a priority. Leaders and staff have received appropriate safeguarding training. Staff know what to do should they have a welfare concern about a pupil. Safeguarding records are of good quality. Leaders contact outside agencies promptly, should the need arise.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have sharpened their safeguarding practices in light of recent audits. There are now weekly safeguarding and behaviour reviews. These check on pupils’ welfare and ensure that any necessary safeguarding actions have been undertaken. Safeguarding is now on the agenda for every staff meeting.  Leaders have implemented new policies that match the latest safeguarding guidance. These include policies around harmful sexual behaviours and around ensuring that staff are recording any low-level concerns. Staff have read these policies and completed tasks to show that they understand them.  The single central record meets statutory requirements. There are robust recruitment procedures in place. Adults cannot start working at the school until all the necessary checks have been undertaken.  There is an appropriate safeguarding policy. This is available for parents to download from the school’s website.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 10  Leaders have developed suitable behaviour and anti-bullying policies. Pupils are rewarded with points for being engaged in their work, listening and behaving well. The points are then converted into further rewards.  Pupils told the inspector that incidents of bullying are extremely rare. They said that they trusted the staff to sort any bullying issues out promptly. Leaders’ behaviour records confirm these views. Paragraphs 11, 12, 13  The proprietor has ensured that the school has an appropriate health and safety policy in place and that this policy is implemented effectively.  Health and safety checks regularly take place. For example, staff make frequent checks on the building, the classrooms, the temperature of the hot water and the emergency lighting. Legionella testing and portable appliance testing are undertaken at the appropriate intervals.  The proprietor has ensured compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)

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Main inspection findings

Order 2005. A fire safety risk assessment was undertaken in January 2022. Leaders have resolved the minor issues identified by this risk assessment. Leaders undertake frequent checks on the fire extinguishers, fire doors, call points and smoke detectors.  The proprietor has ensured that there is in place an appropriate first-aid policy that is implemented effectively. Several staff have received first-aid training. Leaders keep a log of any accidents. Paragraphs 14, 15  Leaders ensure that staff appropriately supervise pupils. Pupils’ risk assessments are used to decide on the correct staff-to-pupil ratios. This includes breaktimes and lunchtimes. Staff and pupils told the inspector that there are enough staff at the school. Pupils said that they feel safe. There are many adults at the school that they can talk with if they have a worry or a concern.  Leaders have ensured that the admission and attendance registers meet

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Main inspection findings

requirements. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The proprietor has ensured that there is an appropriate risk assessment policy in place that is implemented effectively. Pupils’ risk assessments are detailed and shared with staff. Leaders frequently update these risk assessments. They ensure that off-site risk assessments are bespoke to the pupils who are attending the visit.  The school meets the independent school standards in this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has ensured that leaders demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their roles in relation to the independent school standards. Those standards checked as part of this inspection continue to be met.  The proprietor carefully monitors the work of the school. Leaders are committed to promoting the well-being of pupils. Recent internal and external safeguarding audits

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Main inspection findings

have highlighted areas of good practice, as well as areas that have now been improved.  The school meets the independent school standards in this part.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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. 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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 3

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £55,000 to £70,000

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School details

Email address darren.harte@westbourneschool.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 8 to 10 June 2021

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Information about this school

 The school caters for pupils with autism spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school’s previous standard inspection was on 8 to 10 June 2021.  The school underwent a successful material change inspection on 19 October 2021. This was to increase pupil numbers from 49 to 85. A second site, called The Bridge, was subsequently opened to accommodate this increase. It is located at Church Avenue, Lammas Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, NG17 2EB.  The headteacher took up his role just after the previous inspection in June 2021  A new senior leadership team was appointed in September 2022.  The school uses the services of one registered and one unregistered alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned Ofsted to undertake this emergency inspection due to concerns raised regarding the welfare, health and safety of the pupils.  The inspection required the inspector to consider: the school’s RSE provision; the provision for pupils’ welfare and health and safety; and leadership and management.  The inspector held various meetings with the headteacher and heads of school. He met with the regional director. He examined a wide range of documents relating to the RSE curriculum and the health, safety and welfare of pupils.  The inspector spoke with different groups of pupils and staff from both school sites.  To inspect safeguarding arrangements, the inspector checked staff’s training and scrutinised safeguarding records. He checked the single central record and the arrangements for recruiting staff.

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Inspection team

Peter Stonier, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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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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