Elysian, Shamley Green

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Elysian Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning CIC Westland Farm, Lordshill Common, Guildford, Surrey GU5 0TL

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2A(1), 2A(1)(d), 2A(1)(f) and 2A(1)(g)  At the school’s first standard inspection in March 2022, inspectors found that the school had not published its relationships and sex education policy, as required. Leaders could not demonstrate that they had consulted with parents and carers about the policy.  The proprietor’s action plan, submitted to the Department for Education (DfE), indicated that steps had already been taken to address these oversights by October 2022.  A suitable relationships and sex education policy is now published on the school’s website. The statutory requirements for consultation have been met and exceeded. Leaders have conducted a universal consultation about the policy. In addition, because of the school’s special context, staff consult with parents on an individual pupil basis, before and between sessions. While the policy meets requirements, leaders recognise

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Main inspection findings

that it does not fully reflect this enhanced practice.  The other standards about the quality of education standards were found to be met. However, the inspection team found aspects of the school’s work that required further improvement.  Leaders are taking sensible steps to increase the rigour of the academic aspects of the curriculum. The broad aim is that pupils will reach similar ambitious goals to those outlined in the national curriculum. The identification and organisation of what pupils need to learn to achieve these goals is becoming more structured. New curriculum plans are much clearer about the most important content pupils need to be taught. Rightly, the curriculum approach remains firmly grounded in the school’s context of providing for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. The newly devised ‘engage, explore and inspire’ pathways are designed to be flexible and responsive to pupils’

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Main inspection findings

individual and changing capabilities.  Important work is also underway to improve the culture of reading and raise its profile in the school. Constructive links with another nearby independent school are providing regular access for pupils to its library and librarian. Crucially, leaders report the positive impact this ‘non-threatening environment’ is having on pupils’ attitudes and willingness to read. Leaders understand the importance of diagnosing precisely what the specific barriers are for pupils who are not reading fluently, in order that these can be addressed. They also recognise that there is more to do in terms of targeting the necessary support with well-matched teaching and resources to give such pupils the best chance of being successful.  The school meets the standard that was checked in this part. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(b)  At the previous standard inspection, the proprietor and those responsible for governance

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Main inspection findings

had not ensured that all of the independent school standards were met. Inspectors found that leaders’ strategy for improvement was not robust enough.  The proprietor’s action plan, submitted following the inspection, was found to cover all of the required elements. It proposed drawing on external expertise from a suitably qualified consultant, providing additional training for leaders, and strengthening the role of the advisory board and systems for reporting to it.  The proprietor and leaders have responded positively and promptly to the findings of the previous inspection, both in terms of the previously unmet standards and the other areas for improvement identified.  Leaders have taken and acted on advice from suitably qualified external consultants. They are familiar with the wide range of relevant guidance for independent schools and drawing more effectively on this. Leaders have implemented systems and processes to

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Main inspection findings

ensure that the independent school standards are continually met.  Documents relating to the advisory board confirm the systematic approach described in the action plan. Minutes of their meetings reflect appropriate dialogue and challenge.  An internal promotion has helped strengthen the capacity available for the leadership of the curriculum. The clear aim is to give this vital aspect of the school’s work the dedicated time and status that it deserves.  The previous inspection found that safeguarding was effective and that the associated standards were met. The school continues to publish and implement a suitable safeguarding policy. The policy has been updated in line with changing guidance and staff have had the necessary training to be kept up to date.  The school meets the standard 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. 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

 2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor– – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools – 2A(1)(f) consults parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising a statement under sub-paragraph (e), and – 2A(1)(g) publishes a copy of the statement on a website and provides a copy of the statement free of charge to anyone who asks for one.

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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; and – 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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Elysian Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning Chair Charlotte Williams

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15 to 17 March 2022

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Information about this school

 Elysian Animal Assisted Therapy and Learning provides for pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities associated with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. It is a relatively new school which received its first standard inspection in March 2022.  The school does not place pupils at any alternative provision.  The school also provides an animal-assisted therapeutic service for pupils on a part-time basis as an alternative provider.

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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 standard inspection in March 2022.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice.  Following the previous inspection, the DfE required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated the action plan on 28 November 2022 and the DfE wrote to the school accepting the plan on 16 January 2023.  The inspector held discussions with the chair of the proprietor body, headteacher and other leaders. He had a tour of the school site, informally meeting other members of staff and pupils. He reviewed a range of relevant policies and documents, and sampled safeguarding records.

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Inspection team

Clive Dunn, 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

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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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