Longdon Park School

School material change inspection report

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Longdon Park School Park Hill, Hilton Road, Egginton, Derbyshire DE65 6GU

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  There is a strong safeguarding culture at the school. The proprietor and leaders ensure that pupils’ welfare and safety are a high priority.  Staff know pupils well. Staff are vigilant for any signs or changes in pupils’ behaviour that might indicate a safeguarding concern.  Staff are well trained and have regular safeguarding updates that include case studies to help them think through a range of scenarios. This ensures that all staff are mindful that ‘it could happen here’.  Staff know to refer their concerns to safeguarding leaders. Leaders have secure systems to record such concerns. Staff know they can follow up on their concerns with leaders to make sure any additional information is passed on and acted on.  Safeguarding leaders have weekly meetings to discuss pupils’ needs. Therapists employed by the proprietor contribute to these sessions. They provide staff with

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Main inspection findings

information about how pupils may be communicating unmet needs or worries through their behaviour.  Pupils say that there are lots of staff who they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. Pupils know staff will listen to them and act to help to keep them safe. As a result, pupils say they feel very safe at the school.  Leaders maintain detailed safeguarding records. These show that their responses to concerns are well considered and prompt.  Leaders work with a range of external agencies to share information and concerns. This helps to ensure that pupils get the right support at the right time.  Leaders work closely with parents and carers to provide them with support and to check on pupils’ welfare. For example, staff make welfare calls when pupils are absent. They involve a local support network to help parents if their child struggles to attend school.  Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe, including when online. Older pupils are

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Main inspection findings

aware of dangerous ideologies and know to be wary of potentially false information on the internet.  Staff know how to raise any concerns about adults’ actions towards pupils.  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website. The policy reflects the latest guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Paragraph 11  There is a detailed health and safety policy and staff handbook in place. Leaders undertake regular checks to ensure that the premises are safe. Paragraph 12  Professionals external to the school undertake an annual fire risk assessment of the current premises. Leaders have booked a fire risk assessment visit in August 2023. This is for the current site and the proposed new, additional premises.  Leaders have ensured that the new premises will comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  Leaders regularly check the school’s fire safety equipment and evacuation routes.

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Main inspection findings

Regular fire drills ensure that pupils know how to keep themselves safe in the event of a fire.  Leaders have planned out fire evacuation routes and fire assembly points in the proposed new premises. Paragraph 14  Leaders have ensured that there is an appropriate ratio of staff to pupils. Pupils are always in sight of a member of staff. Many receive one-to-one attention.  Leaders plan to have the same level of supervision at the proposed additional site. The provisional timetables for September 2023 ensure that some senior members of staff are based at the proposed site each day. Paragraph 16–16(b)  Leaders regularly update a range of risk assessments. These include individual pupil risk assessments as well as for activities, trips and the school site. The assessments provide staff with information to help them to mitigate against any identified risks.  Leaders have started to draw up new risk assessments for the proposed additional

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Main inspection findings

premises. They plan to write risk assessments that will include the practical activities that pupils will access there.  The school is likely to continue to meet the requirements of these independent school standards (the standards) 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)  Leaders know what checks they must make to assure themselves of any new member of staff’s suitability to work with pupils. These checks are completed before new staff begin working at the school.  Leaders undertake the necessary employment checks on any supply staff. The proprietor has arranged to use only certain agencies that can provide staff who are suitable to work with pupils who have complex needs.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have undertaken all the necessary checks required for members of the proprietor body.  Leaders record all required recruitment checks on the school’s single central record.  The school is likely to continue 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)(b)  Leaders have ensured that there are appropriate toilet and shower facilities for the sole use of pupils. The hot water in these facilities at the current school site does not pose a scalding risk to pupils. The new, additional premises will have thermostatic valves fitted to prevent the hot water from posing a scalding risk.  The number of these facilities across both sites is sufficient to cater for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.  Pupils have access to drinking-water from water coolers that are always available to

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Main inspection findings

them.  Leaders have proposed that the same system for drinking-water will be implemented at the new site. Paragraph 24(1)–24(1)(b)  There is an appropriate medical room on the existing school site.  The medical room on the proposed site was not completed at the time of the inspection. However, the facility has plumbing for a sink, is an appropriate size and is located near a pupil toilet. Paragraphs 25–27(b)  The current school site is maintained to a very high standard. There is sufficient lighting, both internally and externally. The acoustics in each room are appropriate.  The proposed new site has been designed to a very high specification. The plans detail lighting that can be dimmed to suit pupils’ sensory needs. Soundproofing materials in the walls, floors and suspended ceilings ensure appropriate acoustic conditions. Paragraph 29(1)–29(1)(b)  There are large outdoor spaces available on the current school site for pupils to

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Main inspection findings

exercise and play. These spaces are large enough to accommodate the proposed small increase in pupil numbers on this site.  The proposed additional school site has an enclosed outdoor area at the rear of the property which is suitable for the age and numbers of pupils proposed by leaders. There will be no facilities on this site for physical education (PE) to be provided. Leaders propose that pupils who access this site on a part-time basis will undertake PE lessons at the current school site. Any pupils who have a full-time timetable at the proposed new site will have access to a nearby gym and leisure centre for PE.  The school is likely to continue 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)(c)  Leaders have a secure understanding of the standards that were checked during this

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Main inspection findings

inspection. They have ensured that the school consistently meets these standards. They have high expectations for all aspects of pupils’ health, safety and welfare.  Leaders have thought carefully about the additional school site and the provision for pupils’ welfare to accommodate the proposed material change. They have detailed plans for how they will ensure that different groups of pupils can safely access the new site and benefit from the practical facilities it offers. Leaders have focused on making sure that the school will continue to meet the standards that were checked during this inspection.  Leaders have ensured that the education and care that the pupils currently receive at the school are appropriate to their additional needs. The proposed material change will allow leaders to provide additional courses that will broaden the curriculum to meet the needs of all pupils further.  The school is likely to continue to meet the standard in this part if the school receives

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Main inspection findings

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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £53,140 to £88,910

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School details

Email address longdonparkschool@optionsautism.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16 to 18 November 2021

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 7 to 18 7 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 65 99 100

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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 65 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 65 Up to 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 65 Up to 100

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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 65 Up to 100

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 58 84

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 The school is part of Acorn Care and Education Ltd, which is part of Outcomes First Group. Oversight of the school management is provided by the regional director for Options Autism, a company that is also part of the Outcomes First Group.  The school is registered to provide full-time education for up to 65 pupils, aged seven to 18. There are currently 65 pupils on roll, aged between eight and 18.  The school provides education to pupils who have a diagnosis of autism or who demonstrate behaviours associated with autism. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place on 16 to 18 November 2021.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this material change inspection in response to the school’s request to increase the number of approved pupil places by four on the existing school site and by 30 on the proposed additional site.  The inspector met with the headteacher, other senior leaders, the health and safety manager and the company’s estates manager. The inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body by telephone.  To judge the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector read the school’s relevant policies, scrutinised the single central record, checked the school’s procedures for the safer recruitment of staff and met with safeguarding leaders. The inspector also spoke with staff and pupils about safeguarding.  The inspector scrutinised a range of documents provided by the school, including policies related to risk assessment, safeguarding, health and safety and fire safety.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector toured the existing school site and the proposed additional site which was still under construction.

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Inspection team

Dave Gilkerson, 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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