Arc School Ansley

School material change inspection report

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Arc School Ansley Ansley Lane, Ansley, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV10 9ND

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy takes account of the most recent government guidance and is available on the school’s website.  The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and the four deputy DSLs have completed suitable training in relation to their role. In addition, there is a safeguarding lead who works across the schools in the company to provide an extra layer of oversight and monitoring of safeguarding systems and processes.  Safeguarding training for all staff focuses on government guidance updates (including child-on-child abuse), dealing with pupil disclosures and recording concerns. In addition, there is specific training linked to the ‘Prevent’ duty and online safety. The school organises twilight sessions to revisit and reinforce key aspects of safeguarding training. In addition, a weekly newsletter flags up safeguarding updates to keep staff

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Main inspection findings

abreast of safeguarding changes.  Leaders are knowledgeable about the increased vulnerability of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Staff know what to do if a pupil makes a safeguarding disclosure. Pupils name a trusted adult who they would go to if they have a worry or concern. They say this helps them to feel safe.  The proprietor body has ensured that these independent school standards (‘the standards’) are likely to be met if the material change is implemented. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 16(a), 16(b)  A detailed health and safety policy, risk assessment policy and other related policies are in place. There is clear evidence that these policies reflect effective practice within the school to promote the safety of pupils, staff and visitors to the school.  Fire safety checks, including emergency lighting and call point checks, are carried out on a regular basis. The checks are recorded in an online system, which provides alerts

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Main inspection findings

to the site manager to support him to manage his workload. In addition, this system is monitored by the proprietor body’s central team. There are four fire marshals in school and they oversee fire safety training for all staff.  The high staff-to-pupil ratio means that pupils are closely supervised throughout the school day. Staff know the pupils well, which helps pupils to build trusting relationships with adults.  The proprietor body has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i), 18(2)(c)(ii), 18(2)(c)(iii), 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i), 19(2)(a)(i)(aa), 19(2)(a)(i)(bb), 19(2)(a)(i)(cc), 19(2)(a)(i)(dd), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b), 19(2)(c), 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a), 20(6)(a)(i), 20(6)(a)(ii),

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Main inspection findings

20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i), 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i), 21(3)(a)(ii), 21(3)(a)(iii), 21(3)(a)(iv), 21(3)(a)(v), 21(3)(a)(vi), 21(3)(a)(vii), 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c) 21(6), 21(7)(a), 21(7)(b)  The school has appropriate recruitment procedures in place. All the necessary pre- employment checks are made before an offer of employment is given.  All senior leaders are safer recruitment trained. At least one of them sits on every recruitment panel.  The format of the single central record contains the full range of pre-employment checks. It is stored centrally in an electronic format. The office manager maintains the single central record and updates it when a new member of staff is recruited. It is audited every half term by the headteacher.  The school has robust systems in place when they need to use supply staff.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor body has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(c), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b), 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The original school building is now supplemented by two additional buildings on the same site. All three buildings are furnished and decorated to a very high standard. The school is surrounded by picturesque countryside and pleasant rural views.  There are several classrooms that can be used for general teaching purposes. In addition, there are specialist rooms to support the teaching of music, design and technology, art, science, computing and food technology. A range of therapy rooms and a library add additional capacity to the learning environment. There is suitable

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Main inspection findings

space for the proposed number of pupils to learn.  There are a sufficient number of toilets available to pupils, including gender-neutral toilets and an accessible toilet. These contain hot and cold running water and handwashing facilities. There are separate toilets for staff and visitors. Individual changing facilities and showers are also available for pupils to use if they wish to do so.  The medical room is spacious and contains a washing facility. There are two locked cabinets to store medication. The medical room is adjacent to a toilet.  The outdoor area is impressive. It consists of a large field, grassed areas, a courtyard that is being developed into an allotment, an orchard, a bee apiary, an outdoor classroom and a trim trail. There is plenty of space for pupils to play and socialise. The space is also suitable for outdoor physical education (PE) lessons. To supplement the PE curriculum, the school makes use of the local leisure centre, where pupils

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Main inspection findings

engage in activities, such as trampolining and badminton. The use of the leisure centre and related activities have been appropriately risk assessed.  Pupils can obtain drinking water from a water fountain in the dining room. In addition, they can bring their own water bottles that can be filled from a suite of sinks that are labelled appropriately.  The proprietor body has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change is implemented. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body has a clear rationale for why they want to increase the number of pupils on roll. This is linked to the increased demand for school places for pupils with autism. The proprietor body’s vision is to ‘create confident and capable young people who are ready to go on to the next stage of their education’. There is strong evidence

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Main inspection findings

that this vision is shared by school leaders who provide pupils with a high quality of education and prepare them for their next steps in education and training.  The proprietor body has established a multi-layered leadership structure, which they use to support and hold school leaders to account. This ensures that school leaders and staff fulfil their responsibilities effectively. A range of monitoring and reporting systems are in place, many of which report to the governing body. This supports the proprietor body to ensure that the independent school standards are met consistently well over time.  Supported by the proprietor body, the school has established formal and informal systems to monitor staff’s well-being. There is also a range of initiatives to promote staff well-being. The school is in the process of appointing an additional assistant headteacher, three new teachers and three teaching assistants to cater for the proposed increase in pupil numbers.

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Main inspection findings

Five of these appointments have already been secured. The school intends to gradually increase the number of pupils on roll, so that they can adjust and adapt to the increase over time.  The proprietor body has ensured that these standards are likely to be met if the material change is implemented. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has ensured that a suitable accessibility plan is in place. It focuses on the physical environment, the curriculum and the sharing of information. The plan meets the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The school considers and plans for the needs of pupils with SEND.

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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

Email address arcansley@kedlestongroup.com

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 5 to 7 July 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 17 11 to 17 11 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 51 65 65

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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 51 65

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 51 65

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 51 65

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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 51 65

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 22 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3.5 5

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Information about this school

 The Arc School Ansley is located in the village of Ansley, near Nuneaton. It is surrounded by countryside. The school was registered as an independent school in June 2014 and is housed in purpose-built premises.  Arc School Ansley is an independent special school within the Keddleston Group. The school provides education for pupils who are diagnosed with an autism. The school is registered to provide full-time education for boys and girls aged 11 to 17. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Pupils are placed in the school by a range of local authorities, including Warwickshire, Birmingham and Solihull.  The school was last inspected in July 2022, when it was judged to be good in all areas.  Currently, the school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The material change inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to determine whether the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed material change is implemented. The proposed material change is to increase the number of pupils on roll from 51 to 65. This was the school’s first material change inspection.  Many documents were reviewed by the lead inspector prior to the inspection. Additional documents were scrutinised on site.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  The lead inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the DSL, the site manager and the member of staff responsible for overseeing the administration of

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Information about this inspection

medicines and first aid. The lead inspector also met with a representative of the proprietor body.  As the inspection included a full-day on-site visit, a tour of the premises was completed.

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Inspection team

Wayne Simner, 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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