Phoenix Bay School

School progress monitoring inspection report

p.1

Phoenix Bay School The Pavilion Building, Seale Hayne, Newton Abbot TQ12 6NQ

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b), 15,16,16(b)  At the standard inspection in November 2022, inspectors found that school leaders had not established effective safeguarding arrangements. Leaders had not ensured that admissions and attendance registers were in place. Leaders have now implemented an admissions register that records the required information about pupils who enrol at the school. The attendance register is fit for purpose.  Leaders had not ensured that effective risk assessments were implemented to keep pupils safe at the previous inspection. Leaders have worked closely with the local authority to ensure that all risk assessments address the dangers posed to pupils, including pupils with medical needs. Leaders have written and implemented detailed risk assessments for each pupil to ensure their safety. The risk assessment policy is fit for purpose. Leaders ensure that all risk assessments are updated regularly. The local

p.1

Main inspection findings

authority, alongside the governance advisory body, has provided an additional monitoring role to ensure that the school’s risk assessments keep pupils safe.  Leaders have ensured that the school site is safe and secure. The school is compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order 2005).  Leaders have ensured that all staff understand their statutory duty to keep pupils safe as outlined in ‘Keeping children safe in education’. All staff receive up-to-date training in keeping children safe and know how to report any concerns. The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website and is fit for purpose. Leaders have ensured that the school’s safeguarding arrangements are implemented effectively. Leaders check meticulously to ensure that all staff are suitable to work with children.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1) (a), 34(1)(b),34(1)(c)  At the previous inspection, leaders had not ensured that the independent school standards were met in full, including some standards that related to keeping children safe. Leaders had not understood the admissions and attendance checks required to keep pupils safe. Leaders did not have a strong understanding of the independent school standards. However, leaders have now implemented effective systems to ensure that the standards are met. Through regular monitoring by the local authority and the governance advisory board, leaders have a well-informed understanding of the independent school standards and review them frequently.  Leaders had not previously implemented effective risk assessments to identify potential dangers to pupils on and off the school site. Leaders have reviewed the risk assessments

p.1

Main inspection findings

to ensure that they fulfil their statutory duty to keep pupils safe as outlined in ‘Keeping children safe in education’. Leaders have established effective safeguarding arrangements. The local authority and the governance advisory board conduct regular quality assurance of the safeguarding arrangements at the school.

p.2

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.

p.3

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.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006[13].  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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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.

p.4

School details

Type of school Other Independent Special School

p.4

School details

School status Independent Special School

p.4

School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

p.4

School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 0

p.4

School details

Chair Jill Bainton (Chair of the Governance Advisory Board) Headteacher Principal Ross Banks

p.4

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15–17 November 2022

p.4

Information about this school

 The school was registered by the Department of Education on 21 September 2021. It received its first standard inspection in November 2022. It was judged to be inadequate.  The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and/or mental health needs. Some pupils also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All pupils on roll have education, health and care plans. All placements are currently funded by Torbay Council and Devon County Council.  The proprietor is also the headteacher of the school. There is a small governance advisory board.  The school uses no alternative providers.

p.4

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 were judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspection was unannounced.  Not all of the independent school standards were considered during this inspection.  The inspector met with the headteacher, school business manager, special educational needs coordinator and the designated safeguarding lead. The inspector also conducted a telephone discussion with the chair of the governance advisory board and a representative from the local authority.  The inspector talked to pupils and a group of staff.  The inspector assessed a wide range of documents and school policies. This included scrutinising the school’s single central record of checks on adults, the admissions and

p.6

Information about this inspection

attendance registers and risk assessments.

p.6

Inspection team

Susan Aykin, 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 .

p.6

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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.

p.7

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection team

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

p.7