Parkside House School

School material change inspection report

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Station Road, Backworth, North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear NE27 0AB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7–7(b)  The school ensures that arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school. Such arrangements are informed by relevant statutory guidance. The school has established a strong, open and honest culture of safeguarding. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and updates. This ensures that they remain alert to the risks to pupils.  The school works effectively with external agencies to secure the help that pupils need. It also ensures that pupils are safe on placements with alternative providers. Pupils are taught how to keep themselves safe, both when online and in the local community. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16(a) and 16(b)  The school takes a rigorous and systematic approach to health and safety. It ensures that the relevant health and safety laws are met through its policy and practice. It also ensures that any risk to pupils is rigorously assessed. The school ensures compliance

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Main inspection findings

with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Paragraph 14  The school ensures that pupils are properly supervised through the appropriate deployment of school staff. Pupils are in classes of no more than seven pupils. In most classes, pupil numbers are below seven. Each class has one teacher and one learning support member of staff. In addition, there are pastoral and therapy staff who work with the pupils both individually and in small groups.  The current level of staffing is appropriate for the proposed material change. In addition, the school has appointed another teacher and two learning support members of staff. These staff members will commence their employment in November 2023.  The proprietor has ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)–18(3)  The school carries out all necessary pre-employment checks on staff. It takes a rigorous approach to these checks. No member of staff starts work at the school prior to these checks having been completed. Paragraphs 19(2)–19(3)  The school does not employ supply staff at the school. Paragraphs 20(6)–20(6)(c)  The chair of the school carries out all necessary checks on members of the proprietor body with appropriate rigour. No member of the proprietor body takes up their role prior to these checks having been completed. Paragraphs 21(1)–21(7)(b)  The proprietor keeps a single central record of all the pre-employment checks on staff and members of the proprietor body. The school’s single central record records all relevant checks and the dates on which those checks were made.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the

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Main inspection findings

DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1)–28(2)(b)  The proprietor ensures that the school’s premises and accommodation are maintained to a high standard. The school’s premises and accommodation provide a safe and healthy environment for pupils and staff. The school has appropriate toilet, washing, medical care and therapy facilities. These meet the needs of the pupils at the school. These facilities are sufficient to meet the needs of the additional number of pupils proposed by the school. Paragraph 29(1)  The proprietor ensures that there is suitable outside space for pupils to play outside. There are both grass and playground areas available for the pupils to use. This space is sufficient to accommodate the increase in pupil numbers proposed by the school. The school plans to enhance this space by the construction of a multi-use games area. Paragraph 30  The school does not provide boarding accommodation for pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  The school publishes its safeguarding policy on the school website. The school’s safeguarding policy is informed by the relevant statutory guidance.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1)–34(1)(c)  The proprietor ensures that the standards are met consistently. The proprietor has established a rigorous quality assurance process. The chair of governors supports and challenges school leaders to good effect. Leaders possess the knowledge and skills they require to perform their respective roles.  Moreover, leaders fulfil their responsibilities effectively and actively promote the well- being of the pupils. Leaders have both the capacity and capability to ensure that the standards will continue to be consistently met.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve 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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Acorn Care and Education Limited

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £25,525 to £53,373

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School details

Email address admin@parksidehouseschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 10 to 12 May 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 10 to 19 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 44 55 55

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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 44 55

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 44 55

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 44 55

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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 44 55

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 14 15

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 12 14

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School’s current position School’s proposal

 The school’s previous standard inspection took place from 10 to 12 May 2023.  The school uses two registered alternative providers and five unregistered alternative providers.  The school operates from Station Road, Backworth, North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear NE27 0AB.  The school caters for pupils with behavioural and emotional needs and pupils with moderate learning difficulties.  The school is registered to admit 45 pupils. It currently has 44 on roll.  The school is part of the Acorn Care and Education group of schools. This group of schools is also known as the Outcomes First Group.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the DfE. It was commissioned to consider a material change to the school’s registration agreement with the DfE. The inspection focused on the standards with regard to the welfare and health and safety of pupils, the suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors, the premises and accommodation, the provision of information regarding safeguarding, and the quality of leadership and management of the school.  The material change sought by the school related to pupil numbers. The school proposed an increase in the school roll to accommodate up to 55 pupils. This proposal did not affect the nature of the school’s educational provision.  This was the second material change inspection in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make. The first material change inspection in respect of this particular change was on 23 September 2022.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the chair of the proprietor body and the chair

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Information about this inspection

of governors.  The inspector met with the school’s designated safeguarding lead. The inspector looked at safeguarding documentation and record-keeping, including the single central record. The inspector also spoke with staff and pupils about safeguarding.  The inspector toured the school site and scrutinised a range of documentary evidence to check on the statutory requirements of the standards.

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Inspection team

Ian Rawstorne, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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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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