Heckington House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Build a Future Independent School Main Street, West Ashby, Lincolnshire, Horncastle, Lincolnshire LN9 5PT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the previous progress monitoring inspection, leaders had not ensured that they maintained accurate safeguarding records. Leaders did not always precisely identify the specific safeguarding concerns that arose from incidents that staff had reported to them.  Leaders have ensured that staff have received safeguarding training in areas such as the ‘Prevent’ duty, county lines, drug trafficking and child criminal exploitation. Staff have begun to use the electronic system to record any safeguarding concerns that arise.  However, leaders have failed to ensure that appropriate actions are always taken when staff have raised serious safeguarding concerns. Statutory guidance is not always followed. Furthermore, leaders’ actions in response to these serious safeguarding concerns are not always recorded onto the electronic system. These failings are

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Main inspection findings

potentially putting pupils at risk.  This standard remains unmet for the third consecutive inspection. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The previous progress monitoring inspection identified that leaders had an inconsistent approach to reviewing pupils’ individual risk assessments. These risk assessments were not always updated following incidents when their behaviour had either presented new risks or heightened already known risks. Leaders did not always include what staff should do to mitigate such risks when updating pupils’ risk assessments.  Leaders have implemented new and effective procedures around pupils’ risk assessments. Specific risks for each pupil are clearly identified. Mitigating control measures for before, during and after a risk have been identified, and are now in place. Accurate risk matrices show the likelihood of a risk occurring versus its potential consequence. Pupils’ risk assessments are updated frequently to account for when new

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Main inspection findings

risks occur. Staff are made aware of these potential risks and how to mitigate them.  Leaders have ensured that there is an appropriate risk assessment policy that is being implemented effectively.  This standard is now met.  The school does not meet all the previously unmet standards in this part. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website.  The school meets the requirement of this standard 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 previous monitoring inspection identified that the proprietor had not ensured that leaders had acted appropriately to resolve all the issues identified at the previous standard inspection. At the previous monitoring inspection, standards relating to risk assessment and safeguarding remained unmet.  While the proprietor has now ensured that leaders have acted appropriately to resolve

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Main inspection findings

the previously unmet standards relating to risk assessment, the standards relating to safeguarding continue to be unmet.  The school does not meet all the previously unmet standards in this part.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. 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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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Headteacher Lee Wright (executive headteacher)

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £19,552 to £35,682

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School details

Email address lee.wright@keys-group.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 30 November to 2 December 2021

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Information about this school

 The headteacher and executive headteacher took over the roles on 1 October 2022 and 30 January 2023, respectively.  The designated safeguarding lead took up the role on 1 January 2023.  Build-a-Future Independent School is an independent special school. It is registered to provide full-time education for up to 125 pupils aged 11 to 16 years. There are currently 75 pupils on the school’s roll.  Pupils attending the school have social, emotional and mental health needs. Many pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school is situated on two sites, which are: Main Street, West Ashby, Lincolnshire, LN9 5PT and East Heckington, Boston Road, PE20 3QF.  The school does not use the services of any alternative providers.  The school’s last standard inspection took place on 30 November to 2 December 2021. The school underwent a subsequent progress monitoring inspection on 11 July 2022.

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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.  Previously, the school was inspected on 30 November to 2 December. This was a standard inspection. At this inspection, the school was judged not to be meeting multiple independent standards relating to: the curriculum; pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development; pupils’ welfare, health and safety; the school’s premises and leadership and management.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection. The first progress monitoring inspection was on 11 July 2022. At this inspection, the school was judged not to be meeting the independent school standards relating to risk assessment and

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding.  This progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  The inspector held various meetings with the school’s leaders and pupils. He spoke with representatives of the proprietor.  The inspector scrutinised documents relating to safeguarding and risk assessment.

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Inspection team

Peter Stonier, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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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– 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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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; and 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. regulates and inspects to 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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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