Aurora Redehall School

School material change inspection report

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Aurora Redehall School Redehall Road, Smallfield, Surrey RH6 9QA

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school has made clear arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils. Safeguarding was judged to be effective at the school’s last standard inspection in October 2022. This academic year, the proprietor body has added additional capacity to the safeguarding and pastoral team by appointing a new designated safeguarding lead. This will ensure that there is suitable cover for the increase in pupil numbers should the material change be approved.  The safeguarding policy is compliant with current statutory guidance and published on the school’s website.  The designated safeguarding lead and a generous number of deputy safeguarding leads have had suitable training and understand their responsibilities. This allows appropriate cover at both of the school’s sites. The designated safeguarding lead maintains close oversight of safeguarding arrangements at each address.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders provide regular training to ensure that staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding, including any updates to statutory guidance. Staff who are new to the school complete relevant training linked to safeguarding and pupils’ welfare as part of their induction.  Procedures to share relevant information about safeguarding concerns are sound. Leaders keep accurate and detailed records of all safeguarding concerns and referrals. They are aware of their responsibilities to escalate any worries to the appropriate outside agencies when required. Paragraph 9  The school has a suitable behaviour policy which is posted on its website. The policy makes clear the school’s aims and expectations, together with the rewards and sanctions that pupils receive.  The school’s behaviour policy is suitably implemented. On both school sites, pupils’ behaviour during the inspection was calm and managed well. Relationships between

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Main inspection findings

pupils and staff were respectful and warm.  Expectations of pupils’ behaviour are high. Leaders ensure that each pupil’s individual behaviour plan carefully analyses the pupil’s learning and pastoral needs. For example, it clearly defines how staff should respond if a pupil shows particular patterns of behaviour. Staff also undergo training in de-escalation techniques and to help them manage behaviour effectively.  Leaders keep clear records about the sanctions imposed on pupils for incidents of misbehaviour. Parents are quickly informed of any incidents involving their child. Comprehensive analysis and reporting of behaviour incidents take place weekly by leaders. This ensures that the proprietor body is kept well informed about pupils’ behaviour. Paragraphs 11 and 12  There are a range of policies to promote the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors. As one school located on two sites, leaders have developed robust systems to

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Main inspection findings

ensure that relevant health and safety checks are completed at the appropriate intervals. This means that any issues are identified early and dealt with in a timely way by site staff or external contractors. Consequently, both premises are maintained to a high standard and the school is safe and secure.  The school complies with the fire safety regulations. Fire safety checks are undertaken regularly. The proprietor body has ensured that appropriate and up-to-date fire risk assessments are in place for the school’s two sites. These were carried out by a specialist company and covered all relevant aspects of fire safety. There were only minor recommendations following these, which leaders addressed promptly. Paragraph 14  Leaders assiduously ensure that there is suitable supervision of pupils. Staff know pupils’ needs well. This helps them to evaluate risks appropriately so they can keep pupils safe.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has thought carefully about the additional risks to pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) should the number of pupils at the school increase. There are suitable plans in place to expand the workforce to ensure safe oversight of pupils if the material change is granted. Paragraph 16  There are detailed and appropriate risk assessments in place. These set out clearly likely risks and the strategies to reduce them. The risk assessment policy and associated risk assessments are likely to remain appropriate should the material change be agreed.  Each pupil has their own detailed risk assessment which takes into account potential risks and safeguarding vulnerabilities. This ensures that staff are aware of how best to support each pupil. There are also daily briefings to ensure that all members of staff are aware of any emerging issues.  These independent school standards (the standards) are likely to be met if the

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Main inspection findings

material change request is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(5) to 21(6)  Leaders are knowledgeable about safeguarding matters and about the requirements of part 4 of the standards. The single central record is well maintained and meets statutory requirements. It contains details of all the required checks that are carried out on adults working at or visiting the school. This includes supply staff and members of the proprietor body.  Recruitment procedures are sound. Key leaders have completed appropriate training linked to safer recruitment. They have close oversight of the recruitment process, making sure that all elements are completed properly, from initial advertisement to appointment and beyond.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change

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Main inspection findings

request is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25 to 29(1)(b)  The school is located across two sites. Although the application is to increase the registration from 74 to 82 pupils, there is no intention to accommodate any more pupils at the Caterham site. The application, if granted, will allow leaders the flexibility to expand the number of pupils attending the Redehall site.  The proprietor body has ensured that there is plenty of space for the proposed increase in the number of pupils at the Redehall site. A new building has been constructed since the previous inspection. This is bright, airy and well equipped. It comprises two fairly large teaching spaces, a kitchen, a library and a breakout space. There are suitable toilets in place for boys and girls. There is a separate toilet for staff. All facilities have sufficient water supplies for handwashing, and the temperature of

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Main inspection findings

hot water is regulated appropriately.  In addition, the main building at the Redehall site consists of five large classrooms, toilet facilities for boys and girls, an accessible toilet and a staff room. There are two smaller spaces that are used for therapeutic work and the school hall that can also be used for dining.  On both school sites, internal and external lighting, acoustics and sound insulation are suitable for the purpose intended. Drinking-water is accessible and readily available to pupils. The medical room has an integral washing facility and is a short walk to the nearest toilet.  At the Redehall site, there is plenty of space for pupils to play outdoors in the large, paved area. Pupils attending the Caterham site use a nearby park, the surrounding area and other local facilities such as sports centres for physical education and recreational purposes. Leaders ensure that pupils are well supervised at all times.

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Main inspection findings

 The requirements of part 5 of the standards are likely to be met if the material change is granted. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body has a proven track record of success in educating pupils with SEND. They have thought carefully about this material change application to increase pupil numbers. There is growing demand locally for places in the school, particularly from Surrey local authority. Leaders are mindful that any changes to capacity do not have an adverse impact on pupils currently at the school. The consideration of pupils’ needs is at the forefront of decision-making.  Leaders have a firm understanding of the consequences of overreaching the capacity of the school. With this in mind, they do not intend to increase the capacity of pupils who attend the Caterham site to above the current maximum of 30 pupils. Redehall

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Main inspection findings

currently caters for up to 44 pupils, which will increase to 52 pupils if the material change is successful.  Leaders at the school demonstrate a good understanding of the requirements of the standards. The proprietor body has appropriate systems in place to maintain a strategic oversight of the school.  All aspects of the standards assessed as part of this inspection were found likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8 is also likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

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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

Email address RedehallSchool@the-aurora-group.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4 to 6 October 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 6 to 19 6 to 19 6 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 68 82 82

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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 68 82

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 68 82

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 68 82

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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 68 82

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 49 54

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 8 10

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Information about this school

 Aurora Redehall is an independent special school located in Surrey. The school currently takes pupils from several surrounding local authorities.  All pupils at the school have an EHC plan. Most pupils have a diagnosis of autism and associated social and communication difficulties.  The school’s last standard inspection took place in October 2022, when its overall effectiveness was judged to be good.  The principal and the head of school were appointed in September 2023.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  The school operates across two sites: – Aurora Redehall, Redehall Road, Smallfield, RH6 9QA. – Aurora Caterham Education Centre, Francis Road, Caterham, CR3 5NR.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) in response to the school’s request to increase the number of pupils on roll from up to 74 to up to 82 pupils. It is anticipated that the additional pupils will have an EHC plan and the majority are likely to have a diagnosis of autism.  The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the school is likely to meet the relevant standards if the requested material change is approved. At the same time, paragraphs 7, 9, 11, 16 and part 5 of the standards were considered in relation to a complaint received by the DfE which related to pupils’ welfare, health and safety.  This was the first material change inspection for this application.  The inspector met with the principal, the head of school and other leaders. She also met with three members of the proprietor body, two of whom were online. The inspector toured both school sites, briefly talking to pupils and staff when doing so.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector also reviewed the school’s website and considered a wide range of polices and documents relating to the specific standards that were within the scope of this inspection. This included checking the single central record and safeguarding arrangements.

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Inspection team

Louise Walker, 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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