Wildwood Nature School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Wildwood Nature School St Mary Brookfield Hall, York Rise, London NW5 1SB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part were likely to be met.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have made few changes to the already clear and detailed curriculum plan. They have ensured that the school sites, including those outdoors, are appropriately resourced to provide valuable learning opportunities for pupils and to enable teachers to deliver the intended curriculum effectively. Leaders have appointed suitably qualified staff.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils All paragraphs  The previous pre-registration inspection found that leaders had ensured that the standards in this part were likely to be met.  The strong and detailed curriculum plans continue to be in place. The proposed timetable indicates that pupils will routinely have opportunities to develop valuable personal skills, such as confidence, independence and consideration for others. Promotion of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is integrated through the curriculum.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had not ensured that the standard in this part was likely to be met. The safeguarding policy did not meet requirements. It was generic and not specifically applicable to the school. Policies cross-referenced in the safeguarding policy were not in place. Planned safeguarding practice was focused on education in Nursery provision and did not consider sufficiently the safeguarding of older children up to the proposed age of 11 years.  Leaders have revised the safeguarding policy so that it applies directly to the context of the school. The ethos of the school and relevant aspects of the school’s intended curriculum are emphasised as contributing to safeguarding pupils, for example in teaching children how to express emotions and personal boundaries and to ensure that children feel safe to raise concerns. Leaders are highly aware of contextual

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding risks and ensure that appropriate risk assessments are in place for each of the school sites and for staff and pupils’ movement between them. The safeguarding policy is helpfully supplemented with other relevant policies that are now in place, for example for the use of mobile phones, staff conduct and online safety.  Leaders have developed their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues for older primary-aged pupils. They have revised the behaviour, anti-bullying, online safety and safeguarding policies accordingly. Paragraph 12  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had not ensured that the standard in this part was likely to be met. Required work on fire safety in the main school building, identified through professional fire-risk assessment, had not been carried out.  A recent fire-risk assessment and the inspector’s tour of the main school site show that this work has now been completed. For example, fire doors have been improved

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Main inspection findings

using the required standard hinges, closures and seals. Fire-retardant materials have been fitted where specified in the fire-risk assessment. Fire safety training for all staff is booked for the induction week prior to the opening of the proposed school. Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The previous pre-registration inspection found that these standards were likely to be met.  Leaders’ expectations are clearly set out in the school policies. The specific health and safety risks of the proposed school sites and the routines to identify any hazards are detailed and purposeful. Leaders have well-organised plans for staff training so that all staff will know the procedures to follow for the effective implementation of policies relating to health and safety, risk assessments and behaviour.  Leaders have thought carefully about the numbers of pupils to be admitted initially

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Main inspection findings

and have ensured that required staff–pupil ratios will be achieved.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2), 18(2)(b), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(ii), 21(1), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(iii), 21(3)(b), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i)  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had not ensured that the standard in this part was likely to be met. The previous pre-registration inspection found that leaders were not aware of, nor had completed, some of the required pre-employment checks for prohibition from teaching and the section 128 checks for the leadership of an independent school.  Since the previous inspection, leaders have completed safer recruitment training. They know and understand all the pre-employment checks that must be completed and how to access these. Leaders have set up and started to use a thorough recruitment process and are recording all checks as appropriate on the school’s electronic system.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had ensured that the standards in this part were likely to be met.  Work that was pending at the time of the previous inspection has been completed, for example with the installation of a sink in the medical room and an accessible toilet in the reception area of the main site. Suitable provision is made for access to toilet and washing facilities at all sites.  The ongoing work to install fixtures and fittings at the main site, including moving in appropriate furnishing and resources, is on track to be completed in plenty of time before the proposed opening of the school.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information All paragraphs  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had ensured that the standards in this part were likely to be met.  Leaders continue to make required information available to all stakeholders. Policies will be available to parents and carers on the school’s website and will be available as hard copies on request. Leaders make sure that policies published on the website are the most up-to-date versions.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled All paragraphs  At the previous pre-registration inspection, leaders had ensured that the standards in this part were likely to be met.  Leaders continue to have a complaints policy that clearly sets out the required procedures to be followed if anyone wishes to make a complaint about the school. Leaders have well-planned administrative systems to maintain a log of any complaints made, the actions taken and the outcomes, as stipulated in the policy.  Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Leaders have responded swiftly to the findings of the previous pre-registration inspection. They have ensured that they have received additional training and guidance. They are clear about the requirements of the standards and have taken a well-informed and committed approach to completing the work needed.  The standards that were found to be unlikely to be met at the previous standard inspection are now likely to be met.  All the standards are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The previous inspection found that this requirement was likely to be met.  A suitable accessibility plan continues to be in place. This includes providing access to provision across the contrasting school sites.  Leaders have ensured that the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage  The previous inspection found that leaders had not ensured that the statutory requirements for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) were likely to be met. The safeguarding requirements were not likely to be met because the required policies were not in place.  Leaders have rewritten the safeguarding policy and associated policies. The policies are directly applicable to the context of the school, and the ages and requirements of the children expected to attend, including those in the EYFS.  Leaders have ensured that the statutory requirements of the EYFS are likely to be met.

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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

Email address info@wildwoodnatureschool.org.uk

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 4 to 11 4 to 11 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 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 Not applicable 40 Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable Some

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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 Some

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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 Some

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 5

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Information about this proposed school

 The proposed school is located in St Mary Brookfield Hall, York Rise, London NW5 1SB, in the local authority area of Camden. The premises comprise a church hall, which was previously used by a nursery school. The proposed school will use various outdoor sites at: Queen’s Wood, Muswell Hill Road, London N10 3JP; Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve, Wesleyan Place, London NW5 1LG; and Dartmouth Park Secret Garden, Doyntin Street, London N19 5BX. The school will use sports facilities at Parliament Hill Fields, Highgate Road, London NW5 1QR for physical education (PE).  The proposed school will be based at the York Rise site for the beginning and end of four days each week. Three days a week, pupils will visit the Mortimer Terrace Nature Reserve. One afternoon a week will be spent at Parliament Hill Fields for PE and nature walks around Hampstead Heath. One full day a week will be spent at the Queen’s Wood site. Leaders plan that early reading, English and mathematics will be taught

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Information about this proposed school

every day. Science and foundation subjects will be taught through cross-curricular themes on all sites. The proposed curriculum includes forest school and other outdoor activities, such as nature walks, gardening and cooking.  The proposed school will be a mixed school for pupils between the ages of four and 11 years. Pupils will be taught in three, mixed-age groups from Reception to Year 6 and take part in some activities in whole-cohort groups. The proprietor proposes to admit 20 children aged up to six years initially and gradually to increase pupils numbers year on year up to 40 pupils over a five-year period.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to check whether the proposed school was likely to meet all the independent school standards if it were to open.  This was the school’s second pre-registration inspection. The first pre-registration inspection took place in January 2023.  The inspector held meetings with three members of the proprietor body, including the acting headteacher, and the school business manager and the trustee with responsibility for safeguarding. The inspector discussed with leaders the work they have completed since the previous inspection that is relevant to the standards that were found unlikely to be met at that time.  The inspector reviewed documents relating to pupils’ welfare and health and safety, and leaders’ processes for recruitment, including checking and recording the suitability of staff. The inspector reviewed the school’s safeguarding policy. The inspector also

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Information about this inspection

discussed with leaders any further developments regarding the proposed curriculum, the provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, and the arrangements for governance.

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Inspection team

Amanda Carter-Fraser, 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

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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