Begdale House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Begdale House School Begdale Road, Elm, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 0AZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i)  At the inspection in April 2022, these standards were not met because there were weaknesses in the planning and implementation of the curriculum. The schemes of work did not identify precisely enough what subject knowledge pupils should learn.  In the evaluation of the school’s action plan in August 2020, it was found that leaders intended to rewrite plans in more detail and train teachers on how to adapt lessons to meet individual pupil needs.  Leaders have now ensured that there are plans in place that precisely identify the subject knowledge that pupils should learn and when. These plans cover all of the taught curriculum.  Teachers are taking account of individual pupils’ aptitudes and needs when planning learning. They have ensured that each pupil has individualised targets in every subject that are reviewed regularly. Teachers assess against these targets to identify where

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Main inspection findings

pupils have made progress and where the curriculum needs further adaptations to meet pupils’ needs.  These standards are now met. Paragraph 3, 3(a)—3(e), 3(g)  At the inspection in April 2022, these standards were not met because staff had not had enough training to deliver all the subjects in the curriculum well. They were not adapting teaching for individual pupils well enough. Teaching did not take account of pupils’ individual needs.  In the evaluation of the school’s action plan in August 2022, it was found that leaders intended to train staff in how to make targets more closely linked to pupils’ individual needs. They also planned training so that teachers had stronger subject knowledge.  Leaders have put in place a comprehensive programme of training and support. Staff have benefited from in-house training on planning for special educational needs and/or disabilities and behaviour. They have attended training linked to specific subjects and

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Main inspection findings

attend network meetings organised by the proprietor body. Teachers work closely with colleagues at another school with the same proprietor, sharing plans and resources. Teachers are using good-quality materials in lessons.  Leaders have reviewed the way that individual pupils’ targets are used and made them more subject specific. Teachers use this information well to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of each pupil.  These standards are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Health, welfare and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b) Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the inspection in April 2022, these standards were met.  Procedures for safeguarding remain effective. The safeguarding policy reflects the most recent guidance published by the Department for Education (DfE). The policy is available to parents and published on the school’s page on the proprietor body’s website.  Leaders and the proprietor body ensure that there is a culture of safeguarding in the school. Staff know how and when to report concerns. They know well the risks that pupils face. Leaders act on concerns appropriately and promptly to keep pupils safe.  This standard continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i)–(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(2)(f), 18(3) Paragraph 19(2) – 19(3) Paragraph 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i)–(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i)–(iii), 20(6)(c) Paragraph 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i)–(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(6), 21(7), 21(7)(a)–(b)  At the inspection in April 2022, these standards were met.  This progress monitoring inspection found that all the required checks to ensure that adults are suitable to work in the school are completed thoroughly and are accurately recorded.  These standards continue 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)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the inspection in April 2022, these standards were not met. This was because the action plan was not yet specific enough in terms of what would happen and when. Leaders were not yet checking on how pupils’ individual targets were being used in lessons. Leaders had not ensured that the independent school standards were consistently being met.  An updated action plan was evaluated in August 2022 and found to be acceptable with some modifications. These were to make the criteria for success more precise and how they would be monitored clearer.  Leaders are now using their action plan to guide school improvement. It is directly linked to leadership activity, such as work scrutinies, and updated fortnightly to share with directors. Directors know the school well and support the headteacher in ensuring development continues a positive trajectory.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have ensured that pupils’ individual targets are used in lessons. Teachers adapt learning effectively to meet different pupils’ needs.  Evidence seen on inspection indicates that the school is now meeting the independent school standards and has been securely doing so for some time. Leaders have the capacity, skills and knowledge needed to continue to improve the provision.  These standards are now met.

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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. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 Part 1. Quality of education provided – Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 2(1)(b)(i) – Paragraph 3, 3(a)—3(e), 3(g)  Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools – Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)

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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

Website education.keys-group.co.uk/school/begdale- house-school/ Email address jo.murray@keys-group.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 12 to 14 October 2021

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Information about this school

 Begdale House School is a small day school. It is currently registered with the DfE to admit up to 16 pupils.  The school currently has pupils in Years 10 and 11 only.  The school provides education for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Nearly all pupils are in receipt of an education, health and care plan or are in the process of having one applied for. Pupils are funded by local authorities. Most pupils arrive having been excluded from school or having missed long periods of education.  In October 2018, Keys Group acquired the school. The previous proprietor was Direct Care Ltd.  The current headteacher was appointed in January 2021. She is also headteacher of another school, Westfield House School, which has the same proprietor. The deputy headteacher was appointed in September 2020.  The school does not run any off-site specialist units or provision. The school does use an

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Information about this school

alternative provider that enables pupils to study for accredited qualifications in equine care. This provider is not registered or inspected by Ofsted.  The school operates from two buildings on the same site.  The school’s first standard inspection was in July 2011. The school was judged to be good.  A material change inspection took place in July 2014 as the proprietor requested an increase in capacity and the age range of pupils attending the school. The school was judged as likely to meet the relevant standards if the proposed changes were approved.  A standard inspection took place in November 2014. The school was judged to be good.  A standard inspection took place in September 2017. The school was judged as requires improvement. Two independent school standards were not met.  In January 2018, Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan to remedy the aspects of provision which did not meet the independent school standards in the previous inspection.

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Information about this school

The plan was judged to be acceptable.  In August 2020, Ofsted conducted a material change inspection following a request to increase the capacity of the school to 16 pupils. The school was judged as likely to meet the relevant standards if the change was approved.  A standard inspection took place in October 2021. The school was judged as requires improvement. Four independent school standards were not met.  In January 2022, Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan to address the independent school standards that were not met at the previous standard inspection. The plan was deemed unacceptable.  In April 2022, Ofsted conducted a progress monitoring inspection. The school was judged that it did not meet all the independent standards checked during this inspection.  In August 2022, Ofsted evaluated the school action plan to address the independent school standards that were not met at the previous monitoring inspection. The plan was

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspector visited a range of lessons and spoke to pupils. They looked at a range of curriculum and assessment documents. They scrutinised a wide sample of pupils’ work.  The inspector spoke to the headteacher and other senior leaders. They spoke to teachers and the regional director. The inspector spoke to the managing director for education, who represented the proprietor.  The inspector checked the single central record and a range of safeguarding records.

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Inspection team

Tessa Holledge, 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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