Manor House School

School material change inspection report

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Manor House School Stane Street, Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0QX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s last standard inspection took place in June 2023 when safeguarding was judged to be effective and all relevant independent school standards (the standards) in part 3 were found to be met.  Leaders’ work to protect the welfare, health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors to the school continues to be given the highest priority. Staff safeguarding training is up to date. Recent training has ensured that staff are aware of the latest additions and revisions to statutory guidance. Daily briefings inform staff of local contextual safeguarding concerns, keeping them aware of the potential threats that pupils face in and out of school.  Safeguarding records are fit for purpose. Leaders with additional responsibility for safeguarding are knowledgeable and know what to do when they have concerns that need to be escalated outside of the school. The proprietor’s oversight of safeguarding

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Main inspection findings

is secure and supported by internal and external audits of the school’s work to keep pupils safe.  The school’s safeguarding policy has recently been reviewed. It meets current requirements and is published on the school’s website. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 16–16(b)  Leaders are aware of their wider duties linked to welfare, health and safety at the school. The proprietor body has strong oversight of the requirements linked to part 3. Policies are fit for purpose. Routine maintenance and tests of systems are closely overseen by leaders using a management system that ensures compliance checks are tackled in a timely manner.  Fire risk assessments are in place for the school site. These are completed both internally and by external professional consultants. Aspects such as maintenance of fire extinguishers and alarm systems are carried out by appropriately qualified contractors.  General risk assessments are in place and carried out in accordance with the school’s

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Main inspection findings

risk assessment policy. Leaders are able to discuss risk assessments in detail, including how these support leaders and staff to promote the welfare, health and safety of pupils and staff, both on and off site. Notably, leaders talk credibly about risk assessments that have been judged not to meet requirements and when amendments and additional actions were needed before activities such as educational trips took place.  Leaders have thought carefully about how the additional numbers of pupils might impact the behaviour and attitudes of pupils already at the school. Ratios of staff to pupils have been thought through carefully. Arrangements to ensure that pupils are supervised appropriately at all times are in place.  Leaders have ensured that all of the standards checked in part 3 are likely to be met if the material change is approved. 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)–

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Main inspection findings

21(3)(b), 21(5)–21(6)  Procedures and systems to carry out the appropriate checks on adults at the school are well established and sound. Staff with specific responsibility for carrying out recruitment checks understand what they need to do and why. Aspects of the recruitment process are also supported by staff employed by the proprietor’s central team of human resource specialists.  The single central record of checks is complete. It contains all of the statutory information required. Key leaders involved in the recruitment of staff have attended specialist safer recruitment training. Appropriate systems are in place to ensure that the correct checks are made on supply agency staff and those in positions of governance, including the board of directors.  Leaders have ensured that all of the relevant standards in part 4 will continue to be met if the material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 23(1)–23(1)(c), 24(1)–24(1)(b), 24(2), 25–29(1)(b)  The proprietor’s request to extend the number of pupils at the school is based on sensible plans to grow the school slowly in two stages. Work to repurpose some of the existing accommodation as part of phase one is now complete. Phase two will follow and be subject to an additional material change application at an appropriate time.  The present accommodation is maintained well and presents as a suitable environment for a school. Classroom space is plentiful, as are additional rooms and areas that can be used as teaching or break-out spaces. The school has ample capacity for an additional eight pupils should the material change be approved.  Each phase of the school has dedicated areas that contain a mix of class bases. Communal facilities such as a teaching kitchen, art room, library and the ‘Black Barn’, which is used for physical education and sensory circuits, are all well equipped and

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Main inspection findings

support the curriculum well.  Outdoor spaces are also well maintained. Playground areas and a multi-use games area were being used extensively during breaktimes and for physical education lessons during the inspection.  The school contains a range of accommodation used by therapy and other support staff. A dedicated dining room is available for pupils to eat their lunch, as well as for use as a breakfast club.  Key aspects required by part 5 such as adequate toilet facilities, suitable hot and cold water, a dedicated medical room and appropriate lighting and acoustics are all met.  Leaders have ensured that all of the relevant standards in part 5 are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34–34(1)(c)  Leaders have thought carefully about this material change request. Their plans to expand gradually in two phases are sensible. They understand the needs of current

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Main inspection findings

pupils well. Crucially, they have carefully considered the impact an additional eight pupils might have on the present cohort should their request be approved.  The school was recently judged to be good at its last standard inspection. Leadership of the school is now secure and stable. Additionally, a new leadership post linked to pastoral care and well-being has been created to strengthen leadership capacity going forward.  Current leaders talk credibly about their work and the next steps needed to continue to improve the school. Their plans include improvements to the curriculum offer linked to additional staff, assuming the material change is approved.  It is clear to see the strategic oversight of those in positions of governance at work here. The chair of the proprietor body offered a clear rationale for the material change request. Effective oversight from the school’s local governing board continues to be in

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Main inspection findings

place, as does support and challenge from the proprietor’s national quality board.  Leaders have ensured that all of the standards in part 8 are likely to be met 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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Headteacher Lyndsey Jeffries (Executive Headteacher) Robert Fauvel (Head of School) Annual fees (day pupils) £58,150 to £82,395

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School details

Email address robert.fauvel@acornmanorhouseschool.co.u k Date of previous standard inspection 13 to 15 June 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 45 Up to 53 Up to 53

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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 45 Up to 53

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 45 Up to 53

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 45 Up to 53

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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 45 Up to 53

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 7 9

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Information about this school

 Manor House School provides education for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health needs. Many have been diagnosed with autism and attention deficit disorder. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Pupils often display challenging behaviours and require a high level of support. Most have significant gaps in their education, and some have been excluded from their previous schools.  The school’s last standard inspection took place on 13 to 15 June 2023 when its overall effectiveness was judged to be good and all relevant standards were found to be met.  The school does not use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education because the proprietor has applied to make a change to the school’s registration. The proprietor wishes to increase the number of pupils on roll. This was the first inspection regarding this particular material change.  The inspector met with the executive headteacher, the head of school and other leaders, teaching and support staff, including those responsible for safeguarding. The inspector also met online with the chair of the proprietor body.  The inspector toured the school, visiting classrooms and communal areas and talking to staff and pupils across different phases of the school. The tour included reviewing accommodation recently adapted as additional teaching spaces.  The inspector checked a wide range of policies, records and documentation in relation to the specific standards that were checked at this inspection.

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Inspection team

Clive Close, 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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