Bournemouth & Poole College

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 1 Bournemouth & Poole College Bournemouth & Poole College of Further Education, Lansdowne, Meyrick Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3JJ Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

Bournemouth and Poole College provides further education to over 11,000 students, who undertake a wide range of courses and apprenticeships. Further education is provided to young people and adults across three sites in Bournemouth and Poole. The college provides accommodation for young people studying for the specialised chef apprenticeship. This is either with host families through a private provider or in accommodation provided by their work-based placement.

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outstanding

How well young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The college provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the college contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for young people.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 January 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 2

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

The residential accommodation at this college helps young people to achieve excellent outcomes. Through diligent preparation and consistent support, the college helps young people to achieve their ambitions. Young people living in accommodation do so to access the specialised chef course. As a result of running this course for many years, the college has built and sustained an extensive network of restaurants. Because of the stability offered by accommodation, and support from the college, young people finish the course able to meet their future career goals. Most young people go on to gain full-time employment within the industry, often at prestigious restaurants.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

The student assessor builds highly supportive relationships with young people. Prior to moving away to their work-based placements, young people receive thorough preparation, including sessions on living skills, budgeting, travel and personal safety. While living away, young people participate in regular reviews. This includes understanding how settled and safe their accommodation is. Young people said that they enjoy the course and the accommodation they live in. They say that they are well prepared for living away. Young people are clear about how to raise concerns. College staff seek regular feedback from young people, identify where action is needed, and deliver changes. For example, the assessor contacts all young people within two weeks of them moving in. He asks a number of key questions about their accommodation. This means that any difficulties are identified early and resolved before they become more problematic.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: outstanding

An external provider is responsible for accommodation with host families. The quality of accommodation is overseen through a robust auditing process. Host families say that they feel supported by the external provider. There are close working links between the college and the provider to ensure that the service is of the quality expected. Host families said that young people on this course are well prepared for living alone. One host said that they would always say yes to a young person from this course, describing them as ‘driven, focused and mature’.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Young people receive effective support from a committed and skilled student support service. Staff in this team develop specialisms of support. They share their expertise with each other and external professionals. College staff participate in the local network for designated safeguarding leads. This helps staff to understand the experiences of young people who join them, and the local context of risks. College leaders are ambitious to improve the service. This includes embedding research- based approaches to create a more young-person-focused behaviour-support response. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 3 Young people thrive as a result of the carefully planned support they receive. On starting at the college, support services make contact with all young people. They share information about the support available and who to go to with safeguarding

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

concerns. Regular review meetings always ensure that young people know who to go to if they have worries. Young people said that they feel safe where they live, and know who to speak to if they have worries. College staff regularly check in with them about their welfare and how they are coping. Young people feel that support from the college helps to prepare them for living more independently. As a result, they are able to develop their own skills and strategies to manage most difficulties they may encounter.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

College staff maintain effective systems for monitoring and tracking safeguarding concerns. They record clearly what action they take and next steps. The college has adopted the practice model used by the local authority children’s services. This helps to develop a common language and to introduce a clear understanding of concerns. A representative from the local authority sits on the college Safeguarding and Prevent Board. This further facilitates information-sharing and oversight.

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How well young people are helped and protected: outstanding

College staff ensure that accommodation providers have relevant checks completed. They oversee accommodation provided by employers, checking the safety and suitability of the environment. They set out clear expectations about support and safety. College staff carry out regular checks with the private homestay providers to ensure that all visits and documents are in place. There is clear, effective communication between the different parties. This shows an understanding of safeguarding roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are highly ambitious and immensely proud of the residential provision, and the successes of course graduates. It is notable that course alumni are now mentoring and supporting the next generation. The principal leads the college with a clear vision, and understands the strengths of the provision and the skills of staff involved. Leaders understand the integral link between the residential accommodation and the success of the course. This success is underpinned by an approach that is dedicated to creating the right environment for young people to learn and develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

College leaders create opportunities to seek feedback from young people. This helps them to understand the quality of experiences. Leaders make changes in response to the learning identified. For example, through reviewing end-of-course evaluations, leaders identified the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s preparedness for living away. As a result, they improved the support delivered in the early stages of the course.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The college has participated in innovative research with university partners to better understand and promote the experiences of key groups of young people within the setting. Staff contribute to learning and development opportunities in other organisations. There is a culture of learning, development and improvement. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 4 Leaders themselves sit on national groups within the further education sector, sharing best practice and contributing to national initiatives. Strong links are developed and maintained with local partners, including the local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Of children Information about this inspection

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 5

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accommodation details

Social care unique reference number: SC041848

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Inspector

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Bournemouth & Poole College 6 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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