Radlett Lodge School

Radlett Lodge 9 November 2022 Harper Lane, Radlett, Hertfordshire WD7 9HW

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Main inspection findings

The overall experiences and progress of children

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Main inspection findings

◼ Children make good progress while in residence. Staff support children to become more independent. ◼ Staff help children to improve their personal care and communication skills. ◼ Staff offer children a variety of social experiences. This broadens children’s understanding and builds on their social networks. ◼ Staff provide children with finely tailored care that meets the children’s varying needs. ◼ Staff know the children exceptionally well. ◼ The staff’s care practices are well considered, warm towards children and align with the children’s behaviour support plans. ◼ Staff fully consider children’s holistic needs.

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Main inspection findings

How well children are helped and protected

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Main inspection findings

◼ Restraint is infrequently used in residence. When used, restraints are low level, reasonable, proportionate, necessary and not overly restrictive. ◼ Staff ensure that restraint is only used when all other de-escalation strategies have been exhausted. ◼ Staff have a good understanding of how to support children who present self- injurious behaviours. Incidents of self-injurious behaviour are managed effectively. ◼ Incidents involving children harming staff are responded to well. During these incidents, staff have the children’s safety at the forefront of their actions and responses. ◼ Staff are skilful at redirecting children who are in crisis. ◼ Staff’s understanding of how to manage children’s sexualised behaviour is good. ◼ Staff educate children on what is and what is not appropriate behaviour. ◼ Staff understand children’s sexual development. Children are not discouraged from exploring their sexual self; instead, children are encouraged to do this in private.

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Main inspection findings

◼ The safeguarding leads make prompt referrals to the local authority designated officer (LADO) when required. The pastoral lead challenged the LADO when they deemed a referral to not meet the threshold. This demonstrates that staff challenge professionals when they feel that their responses are not in the best interests of the children.

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Main inspection findings

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

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Main inspection findings

◼ Restraint records and incidents are monitored effectively and consistently. This enables managers to identify additional targeted support that children may need. ◼ Staff feel exceptionally well supported by leaders and managers. ◼ Staff unanimously said that leaders and managers are visible, accessible and fully supportive, especially in times of crisis when staff have been hurt by children. ◼ Staff are tenacious in recording behaviours of concern. This enables staff to provide targeted support where it is needed most. Consequently, themes and patterns in behaviour are readily identified. ◼ Staff make detailed records when children are involved in accidents. Staff are attentive to detail and record all injuries to children. This level of recording demonstrates that staff are aware of the importance of reporting all accidents and injuries. This is particularly important for non-verbal children who cannot convey

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Main inspection findings

that they are hurt or ask for medical support.

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School details

Unique reference number 117646 Social care unique reference number SC019505 DfE registration number 919/6215 Inspection number 10261869 The inspection of residential provision was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for residential special schools. Type of school Residential special school School status Independent residential special school Age range of pupils 4-19 Gender of pupils Mixed Number of pupils on the school roll 45 Number of boarders on roll 10 Headteacher Geraldine Mendonça Head of residential provision Shelly Parr Telephone number 01923 854922 Website www.autism.org.uk/our-schools/radlett- lodge Email address radlett.lodge@nas.org.uk Date of previous residential inspection 26 September 2022

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Information about this school

◼ This residential special school is run by the National Autistic Society. ◼ There are currently 45 pupils aged from four to 19 on roll. ◼ The residential building is situated next to the school. Up to 12 pupils can reside either on a weekly, termly or flexible-stay basis. ◼ There are currently 10 residential pupils. The children have autism spectrum disorder. ◼ The head of care of the residential provision has been in post since September 2022 and was previously the deputy of the residential provision. She has suitable experience to manage the provision and is working towards a relevant level 5 qualification.

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Information about this inspection

◼ This emergency inspection took place to determine the effectiveness of safeguarding at the school following a concern raised with Ofsted about the effectiveness of leadership and management in this area. ◼ This inspection took place over one day, at the same time as the education standard inspection was taking place.

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Inspection team

Lianne Bradford, lead inspector Social Care Regulatory Inspector 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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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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