Lexden Springs School

Progress monitoring inspection residential special school report

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Lexden Springs Winstree Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 0PZ

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Context of the inspection

Following a full social care inspection in November 2023, Ofsted judged the residential provision as inadequate. Shortfalls and failings in the safeguarding responses from staff, managers and designated safeguarding leads meant that children were not sufficiently protected. This monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the action taken by the school to meet the requirements set at the last inspection. The visit concluded that the school has met the steps and progress has been made to improve the experiences and progress of children.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Overall, the school has made progress in addressing the issues that contributed to the judgement of inadequate at the inspection in November 2023. However, further work is necessary in respect of ensuring a mutually supportive relationship between the residential provision and the wider school.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Responses to safeguarding concerns have improved. All staff have had additional safeguarding training to improve their awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities. Staff follow procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of a child. These concerns are reported effectively and followed up with the appropriate agencies. The implementation of these improvements requires embedding and refinement. For example, on occasion, parents have received more than one call about the same issue, potentially compromising relationships between the school and parents. However, overall progress has been made in ensuring that staff take effective action to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Children’s engagement in the community has improved . Creative planning introduces the children to a wide range of local activities, which help to broaden their experience of the world around them and help to develop their social skills.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The lift in one house, which had not worked for several weeks, has been repaired and is now in full working order. This means that the residential provision is now accessible to children who require the use of a lift. Inspection Report Lexden Springs, 13/02/2024 Page 2 of 5 Several staff who do not hold the level 3 qualification have now been enrolled on the relevant course. A plan is in place to support their achievement of the qualification.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

The relationship between the residential provision and the wider school is not always effective. Communication between the school and the residential staff requires improvement. Delays in school leaders replying to emails from residential staff, hold-ups with replacements and repairs to equipment, and barriers to decision-making impede the development of the residential and care provision in the school.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

An interim executive board (IEB) has been appointed by the local authority following the inadequate judgement. The intention of the IEB is to support the improvements to the school and residential setting. However, so far, there has been limited engagement between the IEB and the residential provision. Leaders in the residential provision are unaware of whether there is any member of the board who will link with the residential provision. This further contributes to a perceived lack of support for the residential provision.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Changes have been made to the electronic incident reports. These changes reduce the potential for a lack of management action in response to incidents.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Faith-based activities are regularly planned for the children. This increases the children’s opportunities to explore different faiths and religious beliefs during their residential time.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Feedback from parents is positive. Parents say that their children are more independent and have flourished in their personal and emotional development.

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Summary of the progress made in implementing the action plan

Staff said that the head of care is accessible, approachable and supportive. They said that as the head of care is a visible presence in residence, she acts as a positive role model to the staff and has established trusted relationships with the children.

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residential special schools:

 There is clear leadership and management of the practice and development of residential and care provision in the school. Leaders should ensure that there is a mutually supportive and reinforcing approach, between (i) the educational provision and (ii) the residential provision, which is centred around the child. Individuals working in each aspect of provision should be able to challenge each other where necessary. The school should have processes in place to ensure this is the case. (Residential special schools: national minimum standards 2.5) Inspection Report Lexden Springs, 13/02/2024 Page 3 of 5

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Inspection team

Rachel Watkinson Lead Social Care Inspector Deirdra Keating Social Care Inspector

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Information about this school

Lexden Springs is a community special school. It is a day and residential special school that caters for pupils with special educational needs, severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties and autism.

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Information about this school

There are 284 pupils on roll. The number of residential pupils is currently 14. Residential pupils can board between Monday and Friday for up to four nights. The residential provision can accommodate up to 30 children in six purpose-built houses situated in the school grounds.

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Information about this school

The residential provision opened in October 2020. The head of care was appointed on September 2019 and has the relevant qualifications and experience to run the provision.

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Information about this school

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school. Inspection Report Lexden Springs, 13/02/2024 Page 4 of 5

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School details

Unique reference number 115475 Social care unique reference number 2582228 DfE registration number 881/7069

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School details

This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Care Standards Act 2000, having regard to the national minimum standards for boarding schools.

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School details

The inspection was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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School details

Type of school Residential Special School Number of boarders on roll 14 Gender of boarders Mixed Age range of boarders 5 to 16 Headteacher Simon Wall Date of previous boarding inspection 21/11/2023 Telephone number 01206563321 Email address simonwall@lexdensprings.essex.sch.uk Inspection Report Lexden Springs, 13/02/2024 Page 5 of 5 guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.co.uk/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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School details

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