Children's Home run by Cannon Children Services Ltd in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 1 Registered provider: Cannon Children Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by an independent provider. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently being led by an acting manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2023

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 3

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inadequate

Children’s risk assessments and care plans do not include their needs, risks and vulnerabilities. Staff do not understand the actions required to care for and keep children safe. This also results, at times, in a failure to identify more specialist services necessary to support children, keep them safe and help them to reach their potential.

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inadequate

Children do not experience planned and supported transitions from the home. One child did not have a good ending when they had to move quickly. Care planning for the child, currently living at the home, who is moving on to independence is not clear or prioritised. The child is not currently learning the necessary skills to prepare for adulthood.

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inadequate

Children are not making progress with their education, training, or employment. One child has not been supported to explore education or employment options, despite their preferences being known by staff. Staff do not prioritise education and do not encourage a culture of learning. Consequently, children’s days are unstructured, and one child spends long periods of time in their bedroom or out in the community.

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inadequate

Children are not currently able to influence the care they receive. Children are not offered regular key-work sessions or the opportunity to come together at children’s meetings. One child had experienced periods of low mood and suicidal ideation and staff had not explored these feelings. Children have not experienced an empathetic response from staff or been consistently listened to. This hampers children in building crucial relationships with staff.

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inadequate

Children do benefit from a very comfortable and homely environment. The children’s rooms are decorated in accordance with their tastes and interests. For example, one child’s room reflected their favourite football team. This means that children can be proud of their home environment.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The acting manager and staff are not yet managing allegations or complaints satisfactorily. Records lack the required detail and concerns are not thoroughly explored with the staff or children involved. The actions taken by managers and leaders are unclear. Day-to-day life and working practices in the home are unstructured and this leaves staff and children without direction.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

Staff have failed to compile full and detailed records of incidents, including accidents and the use of physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour. Leaders and managers do not address poor record-keeping in a timely way. As a result, records are incomplete and lack detail. Informed assessments cannot be made of whether Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 4 action taken to support children is reasonable and proportionate. There is no reassurance that children are being kept safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: inadequate

The administration of medication is poor. Staff spoken to did not understand the purpose of some prescribed medications or when they were required. Staff error on one occasion meant that one child took the wrong medication and had to go to hospital. Records of medication errors were missing, and administration documentation was not available. Ofsted cannot therefore be assured that staff are competent in supporting children with their medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure staff are skilled and equipped to meet children’s needs. Induction processes for new staff are poor. Staff do not receive adequate training or regular reflective supervision. At times, staff work alone with children without being trained in appropriate methods of physical intervention. Staff report that they receive insufficient support to fulfil their role. This is not acceptable in safeguarding children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have failed to notify Ofsted of serious incidents. This means that Ofsted is unable to assess whether appropriate actions have been taken and that the welfare and safety of children have been paramount. In addition, Ofsted has not received a regulation 45 report or an updated statement of purpose. The manager’s evaluation and oversight of the care provided to children at the home is not yet of an acceptable level.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not have effective oversight of the home. Auditing has not been completed and the impact of the care offered by staff is not monitored by the manager. Staff have not had adequate debriefs following incidents or guidance about what they could do differently. Staff are not encouraged to reflect on their practice and children’s journeys at the home are therefore not understood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The newly appointed manager understands the areas of concern. The manager is confident that he can put these areas right, but simultaneously acknowledges the weaknesses. He is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. The home has not had a registered manager for several months. Staff and children have experienced instability, and the regular change of manager has negatively impacted the home. The new manager understands this and has the support of staff and other external professional agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager will receive the support of the responsible individual, who is focused, as is the manager, on improving the situation. The responsible individual fully understands the areas in need of improvement and has started, with the manager, to improve systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

As a result of this inspection and the concerns identified, Ofsted has issued a notice to restrict the number of children accommodated at the home. This is to support managers and leaders to start to make the improvements needed. Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

*The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on–

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use of monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h)) 6 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 6 This specifically refers to ensuring there are robust quality assurance and monitoring systems in place, which are used regularly and recorded. Also, ensuring that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated and escalated to a compliance notice.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to incidents that have not been notified to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 4 September 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 7 This particularly refers to regular supervision of staff, probation reviews being completed and staff receiving appropriate inductions to prepare them to work with children.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to any revised statement of purpose being submitted to HMCI within 28 days of that revision. 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if 4 September 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 8 the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring there is a suitable monitoring system in place and that reports are completed at least every six months and sent to HMCI within 28 days.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to children’s transitions being planned. Additionally, that children are given the opportunity to share their feelings and influence the care they receive. 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to accidents, complaints and allegations not being appropriately explored or recorded. This also refers to physical intervention records not being detailed and providing the required clarity. Children’s needs are not being included in care plans and required services have not been identified. 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; 4 September 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 9 the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 10 Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to restraint that is planned or provided for as a matter of routine in the child’s EHC plan or statement of special educational needs. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) (b)(i)(ii) (4)(3))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that records of incidents are clear and detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection and learning.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child;

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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is an organisation or a partnership; does not satisfy regulation 28; or is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of— the name of the person so appointed; and the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to there being no registered manager. 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 11

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cannon Children Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Calais Hill, Tyler Hill, Canterbury CT2 9LT

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Inspectors

Louise Copping, Social Care Inspector Helen Walters, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2691235 13 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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