First Bridge School

School pre-registration inspection report

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First Bridge School Station Court, Imperial Wharf, 1 Townmead Road, London SW6 2PY

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  Leaders have an expert understanding of the complex needs of pupils who intend to join this proposed school. They have developed ambitious curriculum and assessment policies and plans. These thoroughly consider the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and specifically the needs of those with education, health and care plans (EHC plans) for autism. The curriculum and teaching plans cover all the required areas of learning for pupils aged five to nine. They take account of pupils’ different starting points, abilities and interests.  The planned programme for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is likely to be suitable. The programme’s overriding focus is on developing pupils’ confidence, communication and social skills. It includes thorough and age-appropriate coverage of British values, equality and personal safety.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have planned to deliver relationships education in accordance with the statutory guidance. They plan to consult with parents and carers when the school opens.  The proposed school is likely to be well staffed and resourced, with every pupil assigned a thoroughly trained adult who will work with them one to one.  Leaders have ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  The proposed school’s therapeutic approach will focus on developing pupils’ social and communication skills.  The PSHE education curriculum includes coverage of British values, keeping safe, being healthy and embracing differences, including learning about protected characteristics in an age-appropriate way. The planned programme of celebrations is likely to ensure that pupils learn about a range of religions, faiths and cultures.

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Main inspection findings

 The proposed school’s code of conduct makes it clear that no member of staff may promote partisan views and that balanced points of view must always be presented in the teaching of any political topic.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7  Leaders are clear about their safeguarding duties. They understand the importance of establishing a strong safeguarding culture in this school for highly vulnerable pupils when it opens.  Leaders with responsibility for safeguarding have completed appropriate safeguarding training to support them to fulfil their statutory duties. All staff will be trained in line with the incoming ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (September 2023) guidance in advance of the school opening.  The proposed school’s safeguarding policy reflects the current statutory guidance and is available online. Paragraphs 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16

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Main inspection findings

 The proposed school’s behaviour and anti-bullying policies are likely to be suitable. They have been tailored to consider the complex needs of pupils with autism. Leaders have prepared a suitable system to log any incidents of serious misbehaviour and the sanctions used.  Arrangements for the provision of first aid are likely to meet the requirements. Many staff are trained in paediatric first aid. The processes for documenting accidents, providing first aid and managing medication are all likely to be suitable.  The proposed school is likely to be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The one minor action identified on a recent external fire risk assessment has been completed. All the required checks are completed and logged. Some new emergency lighting is being installed imminently.  The proposed school’s health and safety and risk assessment policies are likely to meet the required aspects of health and safety and reduce identified risks.

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Main inspection findings

Appropriate risk assessments have been completed for the premises and regular outings, including to the local park.  The supervision of pupils is likely to be suitable. Leaders intend for all pupils to receive one-to-one support.  The admission register template is likely to be suitable, as is the online system to record pupils’ attendance using the Department for Education’s attendance codes.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  Leaders’ processes to recruit staff are likely to be suitable. After some edits and additions made during the inspection, the single central record of vetting checks is likely to meet requirements.  The proposed school does not intend to employ agency staff.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The proposed school will be located within the same premises at the organisation’s

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Main inspection findings

clinic. Leaders have carefully considered how to separate the clinic and school within the premises, such as by creating separate entrances and toilet facilities.  The premises are likely to be kept clean and well maintained. They include two large multi-use classrooms and a large outdoor area for learning and play. There are suitable toilets and washing facilities. The acoustics, lighting, hot water and drinking- water supplies are all likely to be suitable.  There is an appropriately equipped and located medical room. The washing facility is being installed imminently.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  Leaders have designed a separate section on their organisation’s website which will launch when the school opens. This will include all the required policies and information.  The proposed school’s intended annual report template for parents is likely to be

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Main inspection findings

suitable. It includes detailed information about pupils’ progress and achievements.  Leaders have prepared suitably to fulfil the requirement to provide funding authorities with annual statements of income and expenditure for pupils with EHC plans.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  The proposed school’s complaints policy was redrafted during the inspection in order to fully reflect the requirements in this part.  The policy sets out, with clear and realistic timescales, how the proposed school intends to deal with complaints informally and formally.  The formal complaints log includes the stage of resolution and any action taken as a result.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  The proprietor and leaders have a sound and developing knowledge of the standards.

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Main inspection findings

The proprietor is committed to strengthening this further, and to ensuring an effective system of governance focuses sharply on ensuring the school meets all the standards consistently when it opens.  The standard in this part is likely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have written a generally suitable accessibility plan which includes the proposed school’s plans to widen accessibility to the premises, curriculum and written information.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

Email address admissions@firstbridgecentre.com

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 5 to 9 5 to 9 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 24 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0 Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable All pupils

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable Up to 24

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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 Not applicable Up to 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 12

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Information about this proposed school

 First Bridge School intends to register as an independent special day school in the local authority of Hammersmith and Fulham.  The school is proposed to open in September 2023 to pupils with autism and other SEND. Many placements will be for pupils with EHC plans.  The wider organisation provides early intervention for children with autism at their applied behaviour analysis clinic, First Bridge Centre, which is inspected by Ofsted as a registered early years provider (URN 2606323).  Leaders do not intend to make any use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  At the start of the inspection, leaders asked the inspector to consider a variation in their original application. Therefore, the inspection considered the school’s application to admit up to 24 pupils, rather than 18.  The inspector met with a group of senior leaders, including the proposed school’s chair of the proprietor body.  The inspector toured the premises and considered a range of evidence to check the likelihood of the proposed school meeting the standards.

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Inspection team

James Waite, 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

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.

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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 .

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Inspection team

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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