Refocus

School material change inspection report

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Refocus 6 Knox Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 1HW

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  Leaders prioritise pupils’ welfare and safety. They have created a culture of vigilance.  Each leader acts as a key worker for up to five pupils. This ensures that as a team, leaders have a comprehensive understanding of all pupils’ welfare and any support that they may need or are receiving.  Leaders encourage staff to share any information they have about pupils’ welfare, however insignificant that information may at first seem. Leaders know the importance of receiving all information to help build a thorough picture of each pupil’s well-being.  Briefing meetings at the end of each school day enable all staff to consider any safeguarding concerns and the actions that they should take in response.  Leaders respond swiftly to any safeguarding concern. They are tenacious in ensuring that pupils receive the right support at the right time, including from a range of

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Main inspection findings

organisations external to the school. Leaders maintain detailed safeguarding records.  Staff receive regular safeguarding training. Leaders check staff’s understanding of how to keep pupils safe after completing any such training. They provide staff with further support when necessary.  Staff know the signs to look for that may indicate a safeguarding concern. They know to pass on their concerns immediately to leaders.  Leaders are mindful of the risks in the local area that may affect their pupils. They put on workshops, including those run by external organisations, so that pupils can learn how to keep themselves safe in relation to these risks.  Leaders monitor attendance closely. They contact parents and carers when pupils are absent. Leaders undertake home visits to check on pupils’ welfare when necessary.  Leaders undertake appropriate checks on the alternative provision they use. They regularly visit this provision and speak with the provision’s leaders to check on pupils’

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Main inspection findings

attendance, welfare and progress.  Through the personal, social, health and economic education curriculum, pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, including when online and when out in the community. Pupils learn about how to live healthy lives and how to engage in healthy relationships. They learn about consent.  As part of the qualification in personal and social development that they complete, pupils consider topics such as drug awareness, crime, stress management, mental health and personal resilience.  Pupils say that they feel safe. They have staff to whom they can speak if they have a concern. They are confident staff will help them to resolve their concern.  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on its website. Paragraphs 11, 12  There are appropriate health and safety and fire safety policies in place. Leaders ensure that appropriate health and safety and fire safety checks occur. They maintain

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Main inspection findings

records of these checks. They act to put right any concerns the checks may raise. Paragraph 14  Leaders propose to double the number of staff they currently employ to accommodate the intended increase in the number of pupils the school is permitted to have on roll.  As a consequence of the proposed increase in the number of staff, leaders will ensure that the appropriate ratio of staff to pupils that exists on the site they currently operate will be mirrored at the alternative site they propose to open.  Staff will work across both sites to support each other in their work to provide for pupils’ education and welfare. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  There is a detailed risk assessment policy in place.  Leaders undertake comprehensive risk assessments, including for educational visits, the school site and individual pupils. These risk assessments identify pertinent risks. They identify the signs that may indicate these risks. The risk assessments provide

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Main inspection findings

staff with strategies to use to manage and reduce these risks.  Leaders regularly review the risk assessments. For example, individual pupil risk assessments are reviewed at least every three months unless a pupil presents with new behaviours that require the risk assessment to be reviewed earlier.  When pupils first join the school, leaders review their previous experiences and behaviour. This enables leaders to identify any risky behaviours in which pupils may engage. This allows leaders to put in place the right support from the start.  The school is likely to meet the independent school standards (the standards) that were checked in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)–18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2)–19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6)–20(6)(c), 21(1)– 21(3)(b), 21(5)–21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c), 21(6)

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders undertake all the necessary recruitment checks for any new staff. They undertake these checks before staff begin to work at the school.  Leaders undertake appropriate checks on governors and visitors to the school.  Leaders record all such checks on the school’s single central record.  The school is likely to meet the standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1)–23(1)(c), 28(1)(a)–28(2)(d)  There are appropriate toilet facilities for both male and female pupils. Shower and changing facilities are also available. The hot water does not pose a risk to pupils.  Pupils have ready access to drinking water, which is marked as such. Paragraph 24(1)–24(1)(b)  There is an appropriate medical room on each site. Paragraphs 25–27(b)  Leaders have maintained both sites to an appropriate standard.

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Main inspection findings

 The internal and external lighting are appropriate, as are the acoustics in each room. Paragraph 29(1)–29(1)(b)  Currently, pupils who wish to go outside during social time can visit a local park accompanied by an adult.  There is external space at the proposed additional site where pupils will be able to spend their social time outdoors should they wish. Pupils at this site will also be able to visit a local park accompanied by an adult.  The school is likely to meet the standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has ensured that leaders understand the standards. It has ensured that the school is likely to meet those standards checked during the inspection should the school receive permission to implement the proposed material change.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that the school meets its statutory responsibility to keep pupils safe. Leaders’ policies and procedures to keep pupils safe are effective.  The school is likely to meet the standards in this part if the school receives approval for the implementation of the material change.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that are relevant to the material change.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4 to 6 October 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 14 to 16 14 to 16 14 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 20 40 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 20 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 14 Up to 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 4 Up to 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 4 Up to 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 10 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 Refocus provides full-time or part-time education for up to 20 pupils aged 14 to 16 years. There are currently 20 pupils on roll.  The school receives referrals from local authorities and secondary schools.  The school proposes to operate from an additional site to its registered premises should the Department for Education (DfE) approve the material change application. This site is at 17 Sheep Street, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1BL.  The school uses the services of one unregistered alternative provision.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place on 4 to 6 October 2022.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002 to check the school’s likely compliance with the standards relevant to the proposed change to increase the maximum number of pupils that the school is permitted to have on roll to 40, including at a proposed additional site.  This was the school’s first material change inspection for this proposed change to the provision.  The DfE commissioned the inspector to inspect the suitability of the school’s provision in relation to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety, risk assessment, supervision of pupils, staff recruitment, the premises and leadership and management.  The inspector met with senior leaders who are also members of the proprietor body, including the chair. The inspector also met with some staff.  The inspector met with some pupils.  The inspector toured the school’s registered site and the proposed additional site.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector spoke by telephone with a representative of the unregistered alternative provision that the school uses.  The inspector scrutinised a range of school documents, including policies related to risk assessment, safeguarding, health and safety and fire safety. The inspector also scrutinised the school’s single central record.

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Inspection team

Simon Hollingsworth, 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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