Greater Manchester Alternative Provision

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Greater Manchester Alternative Provision

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87 Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside OL6 7HW

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i) and 2(2)(a)  At the previous standard inspection in September 2023, the school did not provide pupils with a sufficiently broad curriculum. In particular, pupils did not experience physical, technological or creative education.  Pupils continue to receive a narrow curriculum when they join the school. The school’s curriculum policy does not make clear the range of subjects that pupils will study at the school. Leaders have not put plans and schemes of work in place for physical, technological or creative education.  The school has taken some small steps towards providing physical and creative education. For example, a range of art materials has been ordered ready for pupils to use. Also, the school is in the process of arranging physical education (PE) provision for pupils at a local sports centre. Paragraphs 3, 3(c), 3(d) and 3(g)

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Main inspection findings

 At the school’s standard inspection in September 2023, pupils did not learn the curriculum as well as they should in some subjects. In these subjects, teachers did not follow the subject curriculums as intended. Moreover, the school did not provide suitable lesson activities that took into account pupils’ needs.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the school has made limited progress in addressing the previously unmet standards. In some subjects, however, teachers continue to not follow the curriculum as intended. Moreover, the school does not ensure that teachers devise appropriate learning activities that take sufficient account of pupils’ needs.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in this part remain unmet. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a) and 7(b) and paragraph 32(1)(c) of part 6  The proprietor has ensured that there is a suitable safeguarding policy in place and that

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Main inspection findings

this is published on the school’s website. This policy has regard to current statutory guidance.  There are robust procedures in place for staff to report any concerns that they might have about a pupil’s welfare. The school communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that pupils are safe and well when not in school.  Staff receive regular safeguarding training. This helps staff to recognise when pupils may be at risk from harm. The proprietor has not appointed any new staff since the inspection in September 2023. However, the proprietor understands and carries out the required checks on the suitability of staff whenever they are appointed.  The standard in paragraph 7 and the requirement in paragraph 32(1)(c) continue to be met. Paragraphs 12 and 13  At the standard inspection in September 2023, the school did not have a suitably trained fire warden. The proprietor had also not ensured that the school had a trained first aider.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that all staff have completed the necessary training to enable them to act as fire wardens and first aiders.  The standards checked in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 29(1) and 29(1)(b)  At the school’s standard inspection in September 2023, the school did not have a suitable space for pupils to play outside.  At the progress monitoring inspection, the inspector found that at breaktimes, pupils access a local authority outdoor sports pitch that is located very close to and within sight of the school building. The school has carried out appropriate risk assessments for pupils’ walk to the pitch and for its use for outdoor play. Staff carry out a daily check to ensure that this area is clean, safe and tidy before pupils visit the pitch.  This requirement is now met. Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(c), 29(1) and 29(1)(a)  At the standard inspection in September 2023, the school did not have suitable outdoor space for PE or changing accommodation and showers for pupils to use.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the school had not arranged a suitable outdoor

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Main inspection findings

space for PE or showers and changing facilities. The school is in discussion with a local sports centre to make use of its facilities. However, these arrangements have not been finalised.  The standards checked in this part remain unmet. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) and 34(1)(a) to 34(1)(c)  At the standard inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that all of the standards were met in relation to the quality of education, welfare, health and safety and premises and accommodation.  In the action plan evaluated in November 2023, the school proposed to establish an advisory committee to hold leaders to account for their work effectively. At this progress monitoring inspection, the proprietor has not set up this committee. Nevertheless, the school has resolved the welfare and health and safety issues from the standard inspection. However, it has not made the urgent improvements needed to the premises

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Main inspection findings

and accommodation. Added to this, the weaknesses in the quality of education remain.  The standard in this part remains unmet.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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School details

This inspection was carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

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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

Date of previous standard inspection 12 to 14 September 2023

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Information about this school

 The school’s premises are at 210 Portland Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7HW. The premises are located on the corner of Portland Street and Blandford Street. The school’s address is registered on the Department for Education’s ‘Get Information About Schools’ website, is 87 Blandford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside OL6 7HW. The premises are the same as at registration.  The school is registered for up to 30 pupils.  The school provides short-term placements for pupils who have disengaged from education or are at risk of exclusion from education.  Leaders do not make use of alternative provision

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  The previous standard inspection took place from 12 to 14 September 2023. At this inspection, the school was judged not to comply with the standards.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. This plan was statutory. Ofsted evaluated the plan on 30 November 2023. The DfE rejected this action plan.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in September 2023. It was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher and staff. The inspector also met with the proprietor.  The inspector spoke with leaders about the curriculum. She looked at curriculum plans

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Information about this inspection

and at samples of pupils’ work. The inspector spoke with staff, visited some lessons and talked with a small number of pupils about their work and about wider school life.  The inspector checked the school’s arrangement for health and safety, including fire safety.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.

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Inspection team

Mavis Smith, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain unmet at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work– – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(a) full-time supervised education for pupils of compulsory school age (construed in accordance with section 8 of the Education Act 1996), which gives pupils experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school–

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 23(1)(c) suitable changing accommodation and showers are provided for pupils aged 11 years or over at the start of the school year who receive physical education.  29(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable– – 29(1)(a) physical education to be provided to pupils in accordance with the school curriculum.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005;  13 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 29(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable outdoor space is provided in order to enable– – (b) pupils to play outside.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils. 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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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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