Fountain Head House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Fountain Head House School Saltash Campus, Church Road, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 4AE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b), 3 (3c)  At the time of the previous inspection, the proprietary board and leaders did not ensure that the curriculum was designed and implemented well enough. There was no phonics programme in place.  Leaders have been ambitious. A clear curriculum policy outlines the school’s distinct curriculum, including relevant pathways designed to meet pupils’ social, developmental and academic needs. The curriculum policy is underpinned by appropriate schemes of work. This enables teachers to plan learning in line with pupils’ needs, including a new synthetic phonics programme to support those at the early stages of reading.  Leaders have implemented a systematic planning system to support teachers in delivering learning and checking relevant subject coverage. Clearer systems to monitor the implementation are more appropriate than previously.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are now met. Paragraph 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i), 2(2)(d)(ii), 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii)  At the time of the last inspection, pupils were not receiving a planned programme of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. Pupils of secondary age were not provided with accurate and up-to-date careers advice to ensure they could make informed choices across a range of options.  Leaders have developed a curriculum to support pupils’ learning in PSHE. The policy outlines the relevant statutory information and approach to how the subject is now taught, focusing on the promotion of equality and diversity. Leaders have been outward facing in order to draw upon external support in the development of this curriculum.  A careers and enterprise programme with impartial careers guidance using the Gatsby benchmarks is now in place. This programme is closely linked to the school’s PSHE

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Main inspection findings

provision and is taught discretely from Year 8. Links with local providers support the provision of work placements for pupils.  The standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 ,7(b)  At the previous inspection, arrangements made to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare at the school in regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State into the relation of recruitment of staff were not followed.  Leaders of safeguarding have worked closely with the local authority to strengthen practice in safer recruitment processes and procedures. These are now appropriate.  The standards in this part are now 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)(d), 21(1), 21(3), 21(30(a), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi)  At the last inspection, leaders did not have a secure understanding of the statutory safeguarding guidance in relation to the recruitment of staff. The single central record contained significant gaps. Leaders were not sure that all necessary checks were made prior to the appointment of new staff taking up post.  Leaders have a better understanding of statutory guidance in relation to the recruitment of staff. Relevant checks are carried out on new employees prior to employment and are recorded on the school’s single central record.  Leaders have undertaken an audit of the single central record and implemented systematic procedures to check for compliance from within the school, externally and with the proprietary board.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are now 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), 34(1)(c)  At the time of the previous inspection, the proprietary board had not implemented adequate systems to check the impact of leaders’ actions, including ensuring all the independent school standards were met consistently.  There is now a stronger safeguarding culture in the school. Pupils are happy and feel safe. They form good relationships with adults. Leaders demonstrate the knowledge to ensure that arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school are met. Safer recruitment processes have been strengthened.  The proprietary board has ensured that new staff appointed to the school have strong knowledge in supporting pupils with specific needs alongside experience in curriculum development. This has enhanced the curriculum offer provided to pupils.  Quality assurance systems are now in place. This ensures that scheduled monitoring is

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Main inspection findings

planned to check the impact of leaders’ actions and hold them to account to further school improvement.  Governance is now demonstrating the capacity to ensure that all independent school standards are met. Members of the board have a wide skill set to check the school’s work and compliance more closely.  The standards in this part 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) the standard in this paragraph is met if –

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

- 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provide for the matters specified in sub paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively: and - 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work – - 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are – - 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which – - 2(2)(d)(i) reflects the school’s aim and ethos; and - 2(2)(d)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics as set out in the 20110 Act; - 2(2)(e)for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate , up-to-date careers guidance that – - 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; - 2(2)(e)(ii) enables them to make informed choices about a broad range of career options; and - 2(2)(e)(ii) helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that –

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

- 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that –

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

- 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 18(20 The standard in this paragraph is met if – - 18(2)(a) no such person is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act where the person is or will be engaging in activity which is regulated activity within the meaning of Part 1 of the schedule 4 to that Act; - 18(2)(b) no such person carries out work, or intends to carry out work, at the school in contravention of a prohibition order, an interim prohibition order, or any direction made under section 128 of the 2008 Act or section 142 of the 2022 Act, or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in ither such direction; - 18(2)(d) the proprietor ensures that, where relevant to any such person, an enhanced criminal record check is made in respect of that person and an enhanced criminal record check certificate is obtained before or as soon as practicable after that person’s

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 21(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor keeps a register which shows such of the information referred to in sub-paragraphs (3) to (7) as it is applicable to the school in question.

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

 21(3) the information referred to in this sub-paragraph is –

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Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietors

- 21(3)(a) in relation to each member of staff (“S”) appointed after 1 st May 2007, whether – - 21(3)(a)(ii) a check was made to establish whether S is barred from regulated activity relating to children in accordance with section 3(2) of the 2006 Act; - 21(3)(a)(iii) a check was made to establish whether S is subject to any direction made under section 128 Act or section 142 of the 2002 Act or any disqualification, prohibition or restriction which takes effect as if contained in such direction; - 21(3)(a)(v) an enhanced criminal record certificate was obtained in respect of S; - 21(3)(a)(vi) checks were made pursuant to paragraph 18(2)(d)

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Part 8. Quality of leadership and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that the persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school – - 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; - 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and - 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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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

Proprietor Fountain Head House School Ltd

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 17 to 19 May 2022

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Information about this school

 The proprietor of this school is Fountain Head House Ltd.  The current headteacher took up her post at the time of the last inspection.  Since the previous inspection, the headteacher has established a new leadership team, including a deputy headteacher and an assistant headteacher, who also acts as the special educational needs coordinator. A new teacher for project-based learning has been appointed, as well as a team of therapists, including a dedicated role for positive behaviour management.  The school supports pupils with a range of special educational needs and/or disabilities, including autistic spectrum disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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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 inspection was carried out with no notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the assistant headteacher, the school’s designated safeguarding lead, the school business manager and subject leaders. The inspector also met with the chair of the proprietary board and a member of the governing board. The inspector held a telephone conversation with a member of the local authority.  The inspector reviewed a range of policies, plans and documentation related to the independent school standards and safeguarding information, including the school’s single central record.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector visited lessons and talked to pupils and staff.

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Inspection team

Heather Barraclough, 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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