ISP School Whitstable

School material change inspection report

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ISP Polar Restart Centre ISP Centre, Regent Street, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1JD

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1) and 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding arrangements are effective. There is an up-to-date and detailed written policy which complies with current statutory guidance. School leaders are proactive in updating their procedures when new information is made available. The policy is published on the school’s website alongside the online safety policy.  The school’s designated safeguarding lead has had the necessary training. The school ensures that all staff receive the required safeguarding training so that they understand how to identify and report any concerns.  Records of safeguarding concerns show that when issues are reported leaders take prompt and appropriate action to help keep pupils safe. Information about safeguarding and behaviour is used to review the curriculum and support available for individual pupils.  The school has recently introduced a new electronic system for recording

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding concerns. Whilst the processes for safeguarding are robust, leaders are still in the process of making sure that the way this is recorded on the new system is as clear and consistent as possible. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16  The school has an appropriate health and safety policy, which it enacts consistently well across the site. Regular checks are carried out to ensure that the school building and grounds remain safe. These checks include servicing of fire equipment and electrical appliances.  The school has a thorough approach to assessing risk in line with their policy. Individual risk assessments are produced for all activities, including those carried out off site such as visits to the local park or swimming pool.  The staffing arrangements at the school are suitable an ensure more than adequate supervision of pupils. The school has reviewed its staffing to ensure that it remains

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Main inspection findings

appropriate should the proposed material change be granted. They are in the process of recruiting additional teaching staff.  The relevant standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for a material change is granted. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) 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(3)(b) and 21(5) to 21(6)  The school makes sure that all the required checks are carried out on new members of staff. These are detailed in the single central record. This document is checked regularly by representatives of the proprietor body and the school’s local governing body to make sure that it remains accurate.  The school does not currently have plans to use any supply staff but has procedures in place should they need to do so.  The relevant standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for a material

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Main inspection findings

change is granted. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) and 25 to 29(1)(b)  The school comprises one building with three classrooms. One of these classrooms has been refurbished recently to facilitate the proposed increase in pupil numbers. There is adequate storage space including lockable cupboards for any hazardous items.  Classrooms are light and spacious learning environments which are suitable for the number of pupils the school intends to accommodate should the proposed material change be approved. The classrooms are clean and well equipped with resources for age-appropriate learning. There are ample spaces to support pupils outside of the classroom when required.  Toilet facilities are suitable. Extra toilets have been added on the ground floor of the building to support the additional pupil numbers proposed. There is hot and cold

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Main inspection findings

running water. There is water that is safe for drinking in addition to a supply of bottled water.  There is suitable space within the school grounds for pupils to play outside. This space could also be used for physical education. The majority of physical education is taught on one of the group’s other school sites or utilising local leisure facilities. There are no changing facilities and pupils arrive in sports kit on days where this is required.  There is a separate medical room that provides a space to care for pupils who are injured or unwell. There are toilet and washing facilities nearby and the room is equipped with its own sink. There is space for pupils to lie down if needed. There are also facilities for the secure storage of medicines. Any medical treatment or injury is recorded in the school’s online system. The school does not currently have any pupils with complex needs.  This part of the independent school standards is likely to be met should the material

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Main inspection findings

change request be granted. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders and representatives of the proprietor body understand their roles well. They ensure that the school continues to comply with the relevant independent school standards.  Leaders have considered the implications of the proposed material change thoroughly to ensure that the school continues to meet the requirements of the independent school standards.  The relevant standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for a material change is granted. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The accessibility plan is available on the school’s website and details how the school meets the requirements set out in schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor Integrated Services Programme

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School details

Website www.ispschools.org.uk/polar-re-start-centre

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 29 November–1 December 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 16 7 to 16 7 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 11 24 24

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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 11 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 11 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 11 24

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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 11 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 3

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 4 4

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Information about this school

 ISP Polar Restart Centre is an independent special school for pupils with SEND between the ages of 7 and 16.  All pupils at the school have an EHC plan. Pupils have a range of needs, but all have a social, emotional and mental health need.  The headteacher also leads another school within the ISP school group. The deputy headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school.  The school is registered to take pupils aged 7 to 16, however the age range of pupils currently at the school is between 7 and 11.  In addition to a number of full-time teaching and support staff, the school utilises staff from across the school group including speech and language therapists, a special educational needs coordinator and a head of therapy.

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Information about this inspection

 The proprietor body has applied for a material change to increase the maximum number of pupils at the school from 12 to 24.  The DfE requested that Ofsted conduct a material change inspection to report against paragraphs 7, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 34, as well as parts, 4, 5 and 8 of the independent school standards.  This is the first material change inspection since the school’s last independent school standard inspection, which took place in November 2022.  The inspector checked the school’s arrangements for safeguarding as part of the inspection. This included a meeting with the school’s designated safeguarding lead and looking at records of safeguarding concerns. The inspector also scrutinised the school’s single central record and the checks carried out on members of staff.  The inspector met with senior leaders at the school, including the headteacher, deputy headteacher and the school group’s director of education.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector checked the suitability of the school’s premises and discussed this with the school’s headteacher and the director of operations.  The inspector looked at a range of documents relevant to the material change request. He discussed with leaders their plans for implementing the proposed material change.

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Inspection team

Chris Ellison, 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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