3 Dimensions

School material change inspection report

p.1

3 Dimensions Chardleigh House, Chardleigh Green, Wadeford, CHARD, Somerset TA20 3AJ

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school's website. Leaders and the proprietor have ensured that it is compliant with the most recent requirements outlined in ‘Keeping children safe in education’ (2023).  Leaders ensure that staff receive appropriate safeguarding training when they start employment at the school. Leaders also provide regular updates to staff so that they are aware of the risks that pupils at the school may face.  Leaders have published an online safety policy on the school website. They ensure that pupils learn how to keep themselves safe when online.  Leaders review the safety of pupils regularly to ensure that pupils receive the right support at the right time. Paragraphs 11, 12  Leaders have ensured that the health and safety policy outlines the key roles and responsibilities for health and safety in the school. They review the implementation of

p.1

Main inspection findings

the health and safety policy frequently to ensure that the school building is safe for pupils.  The proprietor has ensured that the school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The school has appropriate signage, fire escape routes and well kept fire doors. External reviews of the school’s fire safety arrangements are conducted frequently.  Leaders ensure that the fire protection system that operates throughout the school on both sites is regularly maintained. They ensure that pupils and staff participate in regular fire drills so that they know how to behave and where to assemble in case of a fire. Paragraph 14  Leaders have ensured appropriate staff-to-pupil supervision ratios. Leaders have developed a new site to cater for the planned increase in pupil numbers. The new site offers additional classrooms to enable pupils to learn a breadth of subjects. Additionally, the new site provides a range of facilities to support older pupils’

p.1

Main inspection findings

preparedness for the world beyond school. For example, leaders have constructed a beauty salon, a café and an IT suite. They have planned to appoint additional staff members to ensure that the current staff-to-pupil ratio is maintained.  Pupils have access to well-maintained gardens and dining facilities at breaktime and lunchtime. Staff supervise pupils well, ensuring that they are safe and cared for.  Leaders have established robust risk assessments which identify hazards and how to mitigate them. They review risk assessments routinely to ensure that they are up to date. For instance, individual risk assessments for pupils are reviewed regularly to make sure that they respond to pupils’ needs.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is granted.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors  Paragraphs 17, 18(1) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(7)(b)  Leaders have ensured that the single central record of checks on staff who work at the school is kept up to date. The required checks on staff are completed before they are employed to work at the school. This includes checks on the proprietor board members.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is granted.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 28(2)(b), 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  The proprietor has increased the capacity of the school to educate more pupils through the development of a new building on a new site. The proprietor has established a very well-designed suite of classrooms with well-maintained outside space for the older pupils in the school. The new site provides bespoke classrooms to develop secondary-age pupils’ knowledge and understanding of computing, game design, art and design and hair and beauty. In addition, the new building provides a purpose-built café to support pupils’ understanding of the world beyond school.  Classrooms and communal spaces in the new school building are well maintained with suitable heating, lighting and acoustics. Leaders have ensured that fire safety arrangements are fit for purpose.  The school has an appropriate medical room with access to a toilet, sink, bed and fully

p.2

Main inspection findings

stocked first-aid provision. Leaders have ensured that these facilities are well maintained.  The school provides adequate toilets for the proposed increase in pupil numbers. Each of the toilets has washing facilities with hot and cold water. The temperature of the water is regulated. Pupils can access drinking-water.  The premises enable pupils to be physically active through the provision of outside space. The physical education curriculum also enables pupils to learn sports at a range of external sites such as surfing in North Devon and the school’s forest school in the local woods.  The standards in part 5 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is implemented.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders have established a well-designed, purpose-built additional school site that will provide education for more than the proposed increase in the number of pupils. Leaders, including the proprietor and the regional director, know the standards well and routinely monitor their implementation. Leaders understand the needs of pupils with autism well.  Leaders demonstrate the requisite skills, knowledge and commitment to meeting the needs of pupils with autism. Leaders develop curriculums that are tailored to the needs of individual pupils. Through the creation of the new site, leaders have a carefully thought-out plan to meet the needs of older pupils with autism.  Leaders are vigilant about the physical, social and emotional well-being of pupils. Leaders have ensured that there is an effective culture of safeguarding at the school.

p.3

Main inspection findings

 Leaders have ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is granted.

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.5

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.5

School details

School status Independent special school

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £62,061 to £71,815

p.5

School details

Email address caroline@3dimensions.org.uk

p.5

School details

Date of previous standard inspection 15 to 18 March 2022

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 25 7 to 25 7 to 25

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 41 60 64

p.5

recommendation

Reason for inspector’s recommendations The headteacher has revised her request as the new school site has the capacity to educate 24 pupils in addition to the 40 pupils at the current site. The inspector recommends that the school be allowed to increase the number of pupils to 64.

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 40 64

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 41 64

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 41 64

p.6

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 41 64

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5 9

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 28 35

p.6

Information about this school

 3 Dimensions is an independent special school that is registered to provide education for boys and girls with autism. The school operates on one site near the town of Chard.  The school is owned by P Bloom Ltd and is part of the Options Autism Strand.  All pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan.  All pupils are placed at the school by their representative local authorities.  The school uses one alternative provider.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to establish whether the school is likely to meet the relevant standards if a material change to the school’s registration is implemented. The proprietor proposes to increase the maximum number of pupils from 40 to 64.  During the inspection, the inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body, the regional director, the headteacher and the senior leadership team. Some of these meetings were held online. The inspector carried out lesson visits, observed breaktime activities and spoke with pupils. The inspector considered a range of documentation, including site plans, curriculum plans, policy documents and documents relating to safeguarding. She toured the site and visited the rooms that the school proposes to begin using. She visited the outdoor space that the school proposes to use.

p.7

Inspection team

Susan Aykin, 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 .

p.7

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.

p.8

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 .

p.8

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.

p.8

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8