Red Moor School

School material change inspection report

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Red Moor School Churchtown Farm, Lanlivery, Cornwall PL30 5BT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school publishes a comprehensive safeguarding policy on its website. The proprietor ensures that the policy is aligned to any updates in guidance from the Secretary of State. The school’s safeguarding team ensures that the policy is localised to reflect the particular circumstances of the school.  Staff receive appropriate training which they use to safeguard pupils. Leaders maintain records so that they can address any gaps in staff training and knowledge. Staff report and record any concerns confidently. Where appropriate, leaders refer concerns to safeguarding partners at the local authority. This helps to ensure that families receive the support they need.  Leaders, including those in governance roles, collect a wide range of information which helps them to understand the safeguarding culture in the school. They use this

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Main inspection findings

to address any patterns in pupils’ behaviour or the school’s use of restrictive physical interventions. There is an open culture in which other school leaders and expert professionals are invited into the school to scrutinise practice.  It was not possible to confirm leaders’ account of the culture of safeguarding in the school by speaking with pupils because there were no pupils on site at the time of the inspection. Paragraph 11  The proprietor publishes a health and safety policy statement on the school’s website. The principles in this statement are implemented effectively through the day-to-day management of the school’s activities and premises. For example, health and safety matters are regularly discussed in staff briefings. These are attended by the site manager so that any issues can be promptly addressed. Paragraph 12  The school complies fully with fire legislation. Detailed records of drills and checks on

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Main inspection findings

equipment are maintained. Leaders ensure that an annual fire risk assessment is conducted by a qualified person. There is a systematic approach to ensuring that any recommendations are actioned as soon as practicable. Paragraph 14  Due to pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs, a high ratio of staff to pupils is maintained. The proprietor ensures an appropriate range of teaching, therapy and support staff to provide for the academic, pastoral and personal needs of the pupils. Leaders plan to increase the total number of staff by 10 to ensure that they can safely manage an increase of 10 pupils. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  Leaders’ approach to risk assessment reflects their ambitious goals for pupils. The school is based on a large, rural site, which includes many features with associated risks. Leaders’ approach has been to enable pupils’ safe use of as much of the site and as many of its features as possible. For example, there is a lake on site, which

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Main inspection findings

leaders are dredging and making safe, in order to expand upon the school’s offer. Leaders involve pupils in their plans for developing the site. This helps pupils to understand the risks and develop a sense of responsibility for the site.  As part of the school’s extensive enrichment programme, pupils access outdoor and adventurous activities off site and sometimes abroad. Leaders’ expertise and experience in the risk assessment of such activities is notable. As a result, pupils access an ambitious range of activities safely.  The school caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Due to their particular needs, some pupils struggle to behave in a way that keeps themselves and others safe. Leaders have developed individual risk assessments for each pupil. These include valuable guidance for staff which helps them to reduce risk. Leaders ensure that pupils’ risk assessments are updated following any incidents.

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Main inspection findings

 School leaders have ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18  The proprietor carries out appropriate vetting checks to assess the suitability of staff to work with children and young people. School leaders are supported in their recruitment processes by a group human resources team. There are several layers of checks in place to ensure that all necessary assurances have been gained before a member of staff begins work with pupils. Paragraph 19  When using supply staff, leaders gain assurances from third party agencies to confirm that appropriate vetting checks have been carried out. Leaders then carry out additional checks of their own before setting agency staff to work. Paragraph 20  Members of the proprietor body undertake appropriate checks to confirm their

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Main inspection findings

suitability for the role. This includes section 128 management checks. Paragraph 21  Leaders maintain a digital single central record which is available for inspection in hard copy if required. There is a regular audit process which is used to identify aspects to strengthen. These are actioned promptly.  School leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23  There are several sets of girls’ and boys’ toilets spread across the site. There is provision for changing and showering available. Paragraph 24  There is a dedicated room for the provision of medical treatment. This is located close to a toilet which includes washing facilities. Paragraph 25  Since the school opened in 2020, it has benefited from significant investment by the proprietor. To support an increase in pupil capacity by 10, the proprietor has

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Main inspection findings

converted existing buildings, creating three new classrooms and an attractive and well-equipped assembly hall, and refurbishing specialist classrooms for art and design and technology. The site and facilities are ample for the intended growth in pupil numbers and will support a rich curriculum offer.  The site team are actively involved in the life of the school. They work alongside staff and pupils to ensure that the site is adapted to meet their needs. The school is maintained so as to keep pupils safe. Paragraphs 26, 27  The classrooms converted for the purpose of accommodating an increase in pupil numbers have been thoughtfully and attractively designed. Consideration has been given to acoustics and lighting.  If the material change is approved, additional pupils may also be accommodated in classrooms that are already in use. The proprietor is in the process of redecorating some of these spaces. These classrooms have suitable acoustics and lighting.

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Main inspection findings

 External lighting is in place to ensure safe movement around the site after dark and in the winter months. Paragraph 28  Water that is suitable for drinking is clearly labelled throughout the site. To accommodate more pupils, the proprietor plans to install additional drinking fountains.  Hot water as supplied to the toilet facilities does not pose a scalding risk. Paragraph 29  The school enjoys considerable outdoor space. This includes a multi-use games area and an adventure playground. This provides ample facility for the teaching of physical education and the playing of games.  School leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)–34(1)(c)  Leaders, including the proprietor, demonstrate confident knowledge of the standards. They have substantial experience drawn from their work across similar settings.

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Main inspection findings

 The school benefits from strong governance arrangements. A peer group of headteachers drawn from similar schools within the group provide effective support and challenge to school leaders. This helps to ensure that the standards are met consistently and securely.  The proprietor has ensured that necessary building and refurbishment work will be completed in time to accommodate an increase in the capacity of the school.  Leaders work closely with Cornwall local authority. In requesting this material change, they are responding to a need for more specialist places for pupils in Cornwall.  The school is likely to meet the standard in part 8 if the material change is approved.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £46,340 to £146,340

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School details

Email address enquiries@redmoorschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15 to 17 September 2021

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 18 5 to 18 5 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 64 80 80

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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 64 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 64 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 64 80

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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 64 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 35 40

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 40 45

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Information about this school

 The school opened in September 2020 and received its first standard inspection in September 2021.  Since the previous inspection, the number of pupils on roll has risen considerably.  Red Moor School is a specialist provision for pupils with SEND, including social, emotional and mental health needs and autism. All pupils have education, health and care plans. Most placements are funded by Cornwall local authority.  The school is part of the Acorn Care and Education group which comprises 33 special schools nationally.  The school uses no alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to the proprietor’s request to increase pupil capacity from 70 to 80. This was the second material change to the school’s registration agreement. At the first material change inspection in May 2022, it was recommended that the school be approved to increase capacity from 36 to 70 pupils.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher, members of the senior leadership team, the designated safeguarding lead and the regional director who chairs the school’s governance team.  The inspector toured the school site with leaders to check that the premises were suitable and safe for the accommodation of a further 10 pupils.  The inspector met with the school’s safeguarding team and reviewed documents and policies, including the safeguarding policy, a range of risk assessments and records related to the maintenance of health and safety standards across the site.

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Inspection team

Lydia Pride, 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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