Lighthouse School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Lighthouse School 24 Clarendon Road, Margate, Kent CT9 2QJ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7–7(b)  At the previous monitoring inspection this standard was judged to be met. It was found that leaders possessed strong knowledge and understanding relating to child protection, safeguarding processes and requirements. Leaders were reported to have an ‘acute understanding’ of the impact of childhood trauma, as well as expert knowledge of the additional vulnerabilities of those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These high standards have been maintained.  Since the previous monitoring inspection, there has been a change in safeguarding governor. The new governor is external to the school and brings a wealth of expertise. Thorough and appropriate systems are in place to oversee safeguarding culture and practice. Rigour and accountability for safeguarding have continued to strengthen since the previous inspection.  All policies relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils are available on the

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Main inspection findings

school’s website. Policies are easy to navigate, provide clear and helpful guidance and reference relevant legislation and statutory requirements.  This standard continues to be met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The safeguarding policy is readily available on the school website. The document is up to date and references the latest government guidance on safeguarding. The policy is also available to parents and carers in hard copy directly from the school.  This standard continues to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(b)  At the monitoring inspection of February 2022, it was found that extensive improvements had been secured and that leaders had successfully rectified all unmet standards in parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Despite this, as certain improvements were very new, it was considered too soon to judge that the independent school standards were

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Main inspection findings

‘consistently’ met in full. Consequently, two standards in part 8 remained unmet.  Changes have been made to the leadership of Lighthouse School. The previous headteacher has left the school to take up a new post. One of the former deputy headteachers has been appointed as headteacher, with the other remaining in post as deputy. All leaders in new positions bring suitable knowledge, expertise and ambition for the continuing improvement of the school. Leaders, and the whole staff team, demonstrate the utmost commitment to the education and welfare of the pupils.  Systems and processes, such as the recording and tracking of safeguarding concerns and consequent actions, are now fully embedded. The inspector scrutinised chronologies and found these to be clear, informative and helpful. Evidence demonstrates that leaders act promptly in the face of concerns, refer to other agencies when appropriate and

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Main inspection findings

utilise a range of bespoke strategies to support individual pupils.  Systems to record and monitor staff recruitment checks are well established. Leaders and managers have undertaken relevant training. Those involved in any aspect of the recruitment process know precisely what checks must be made and how and when.  Previously unmet standards relating to part 8 of the independent school 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that 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.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £37,000 to £59, 000

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School details

Email address t.collins@lighthouseschools.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 22 to 24 June 2021

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Information about this school

 The Lighthouse School is registered for 54 pupils, aged from seven to 19. All pupils who attend the school have SEND associated with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Almost all pupils have an education, health and care plan. Approximately half of the pupils on roll are children looked after.  The school operates from two sites, Clarendon Road and Northdown House. The latter is the main site.  The school currently uses one unregistered alternative provision.  The last standard inspection took place in June 2021. A progress monitoring and material change inspection took place in February 2022. This was the second monitoring inspection of Lighthouse School.

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Information about this inspection

 The 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.  This inspection was carried out without notice.  The school’s action plan, required by the Department for Education (DfE), was evaluated by Ofsted on 1 June 2022. The action plan was accepted as fit for purpose with no requirement for modifications. The DfE confirmed acceptance of the action plan on 15 July 2022.  During the monitoring inspection, the inspector met extensively with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher and the proprietor. In particular, discussions related to leadership and management of the school and progress made since the previous monitoring inspection. Leaders shared documents, such as the school improvement plan,

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Information about this inspection

the completed action plan and safeguarding bulletins, with the inspector.  The inspector made brief visits to all classrooms and spoke informally to staff and pupils.  The single central record and a range of documentation relating to safeguarding, welfare, health and safety were scrutinised. The inspector also considered wider documentation relating to all aspects of leadership and management of the school.

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Inspection team

Hilary Macdonald, 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

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

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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