Aspiration House School

Aspiration House School Church Road, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire PE22 0NX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The proprietor has ensured that leaders and staff have received appropriate safeguarding training. They know the procedures to follow should they have a welfare concern about a pupil or be worried about the behaviour of a member of staff. Leaders and staff know pupils and their families well.  Leaders keep detailed safeguarding records. Leaders take, and then record, their appropriate actions after safeguarding concerns have been raised. Outside agencies are contacted promptly should the need arise.  The safeguarding policy considers the latest statutory guidance. This includes updates around harmful sexual behaviours and ensuring that staff are recording any low-level concerns. Parents and carers can request a paper copy of the safeguarding policy as there is no school website. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The proprietor has ensured that there is an appropriate risk assessment policy in

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Main inspection findings

place. Pupils have their own bespoke risk management plans. These identify potential risks and have appropriate control measures in place to help to mitigate them. Staff must read and understand these plans before working with a pupil.  Leaders ensure that risk assessments for any off-site visits are bespoke. They contain specific risk assessments for those pupils attending the visit. For example, extra staff are included on a visit should a pupil be at risk of potentially absconding.  The school meets the independent school standards in this part. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 25(5)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that the single central record meets current requirements.  Leaders have completed safer recruitment training. Therefore, all the required checks are undertaken on staff before they are allowed to start working at the school. The school does not currently use the services of supply staff.  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 the knowledge and skills appropriate to their roles. This is helping to ensure that the independent school standards are consistently met. The standards checked as part of this inspection continue to be met.  The proprietor undertakes frequent visits to the school. The recent appointment of an educational director has helped to ensure that safeguarding and safer recruitment

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Main inspection findings

practices are robust. Recent external audits have reassured the proprietor that leaders are consistently promoting pupils’ well-being.  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

Email address julie.white@vals-place.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16 to 18 November 2021

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection was from 16 to 18 November 2021. The school was judged to be good overall. During this inspection, the school successfully undertook a material change inspection to increase pupil numbers from four to 10.  The headteacher at the time of the previous standard inspection left the role on 6 June 2022.  A new headteacher was then appointed and left the role on 14 November 2022.  The current headteacher has worked at the school since September 2020 and had previously been the care manager. She had been covering the headteacher role for a month before permanently taking up the role on the day of this emergency inspection, 15 November 2022.  The school is located at Church Road, Freiston, Boston PE22 0NX.  The school provides full-time education for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities aged between seven and 18 years. All pupils have an education, health and

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Information about this school

care plan.  Pupils have a range of learning difficulties including autism spectrum disorder.  The school can admit boys and girls. However, at the time of this emergency inspection, only boys were on the school’s roll.  The school does not use the services of any alternative provisions.

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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 pupils, the suitability and recruitment of staff and the quality of leadership and management.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspector had various meetings with the headteacher. He also met individually with pupils and staff. He scrutinised various documents and policies, including those relating to risk assessment. He held a telephone conversation with the proprietor.  To inspect safeguarding arrangements, the inspector checked the school’s safeguarding policy and staff training and scrutinised safeguarding records. He scrutinised 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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