Cambian Dunbroch School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Cambian Dunbroch School Fordham Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7LF

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(2), 2(2)(d), 2(2)(d)(i)  This independent school standard (the standard) was not met at the inspection in September 2023 because the school’s programme for personal, social and health education (PSHE) was not in place as well as it should have been. Pupils were not developing a deep understanding of these areas.  In the school’s action plan in December 2023, leaders planned to review the curriculum policy and put in place a coherent PSHE programme that builds on what pupils know and can do. The evaluation of leaders’ action plan found that leaders needed to clarify how they would measure the intended impact of their work.  Leaders have restructured the PSHE scheme. They have also reviewed the quality of delivery of PSHE. Pupils now experience and learn from a coherent PSHE programme.  These standards are now met. Paragraphs 2(2)(e), 2(2)(e)(i), 2(2)(e)(ii), 2(2)(e)(iii)

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Main inspection findings

 This standard was not met in September 2023 because the school did not have an effective programme of advice and guidance. Pupils did not have the information they needed to make well-informed choices about their future options.  The evaluation of the action plan in December 2023 found the plan to be confused and unclear about how the school would make the intended improvements. Since then, leaders have sensibly organised the programme of advice and guidance. They have also introduced regular opportunities for pupils to receive careers advice from an independent adviser.  These standards are now met. Paragraphs 3, 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), 3(d)  At the inspection in September 2023, inspectors found staff not delivering the curriculum well enough. Work was not well matched to pupils’ needs and, in some areas, work was too easy.  The evaluation of the school’s action plan in December 2023 found that too many actions

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Main inspection findings

were not specific or measurable. The evaluation also found that the school’s timescale for improvement activities was not realistic.  The school has put in place training for leaders and staff. The school has also appointed a subject specialist for English. There is more work to do. Staff do not consistently deliver challenging learning activities that enable pupils to achieve as well as they could.  The school has chosen an approach to the teaching of phonics. The school has not yet trained staff in how to implement the programme. The school has pupils who need to learn phonics to read fluently and, equally, pupils who would benefit from additional support to help them achieve well in all areas of the English curriculum, for example improving pupils’ spelling. They are not able to access the full curriculum due to the lack of phonics expertise at the school.  Since the previous standard inspection, the school has been designing a curriculum for

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Main inspection findings

reading. This has not yet been completed for key stage 3.  These standards are not met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the inspection in September 2023, this standard was met. The school continues to have effective safeguarding practices and adheres to statutory expectations. Staff are well trained and alert to the signs of potential harm. They raise concerns swiftly when they arise and follow the school’s procedures correctly. Leaders work well with external agencies to ensure that vulnerable pupils receive the support they need. The school’s child protection records are well maintained. Paragraphs 9, 9(a), 9(b), 9(c)  This standard was met in September 2023. This standard continues to be met. Leaders have an effective behaviour policy in place. Staff and pupils understand and adhere to the policy. Staff support pupils well when they find it difficult to regulate their emotions. Pupils behave well at school. Paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)  This standard was met at the inspection in September 2023. This standard continues to

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Main inspection findings

be met. Leaders have an effective risk assessment policy in place. They identify risks and put suitable measures in place to reduce them.  These standards are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  In September 2023, inspectors found that leaders had not ensured that the school consistently met the standards. Standards were not met for the quality of education.  The evaluation of the action plan in December 2023 found the plan was not fit for purpose. This was because leaders were not sufficiently precise about the steps they would take to improve the school. Leaders also were not clear about how they would measure improvements.  Since the previous inspection, the proprietor increased the size of the leadership team and introduced training for staff and leaders. These actions have contributed towards some improvements to the quality of education. Further training is needed to develop leaders’ abilities to plan the curriculum as effectively as they could. This is particularly the case regarding leaders’ work in clarifying exactly what knowledge pupils must learn

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Main inspection findings

in each subject.  These standards are not met.

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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. 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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Website www.cambiangroup.com/residential- services/our-care-homes/mental-health- services/merida/dunbroch-school/ Email address karen.carrington@cambiangroup.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19 to 21 September 2023

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Information about this school

 The school caters for pupils who have a primary special educational needs and/or disabilities diagnosis relating to their social, emotional and mental health needs. Pupils’ needs may also include autism, cognitive and learning needs, specific learning difficulties, behavioural, emotional and social development needs, behavioural, emotional and social difficulty, communication and interaction needs, and speech and language needs. Approximately half the pupils have education, health and care plans.  The provider caters exclusively for children looked after by the local authority. Placements are commissioned by a range of local authorities.  The proprietor body is a private limited company. There are five directors. The company runs 22 other schools and 16 post-16 colleges nationally.  At the time of the inspection, the school had one qualified teacher.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this school

 Pupils joined the school from February 2022. The school has capacity for 22 pupils. At the time of the inspection, seven were on roll.  This is the first monitoring visit since the first standard inspection in September 2023.

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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 not to comply with at its previous inspection.  The inspector spoke with the quality improvement lead, the headteacher, staff and pupils.  The inspector visited lessons in a range of subjects.  The inspector considered a range of records, including safeguarding records and records regarding pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The inspector looked at curriculum plans, leaders’ plans to develop the school further and pupils’ books.

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Inspection team

Al Mistrano, 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 un-met at this inspection

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(b) fosters in pupils’ self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 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.

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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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

 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.  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are– – 2(2)(d) personal, social, health and economic education which– – 2(2)(d)(i) reflects the school’s aim and ethos; and – 2(2)(e) for pupils receiving secondary education, access to accurate, up-to-date careers guidance that– – 2(2)(e)(i) is presented in an impartial manner; – 2(2)(e)(ii) encourages respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act; – 2(2)(e)(iii) helps to encourage them to fulfil their potential;  7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

school; and – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that– – 9(a) a written behaviour policy is drawn up that, amongst other matters, sets out the sanctions to be adopted in the event of pupil misbehaviour; – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and – 9(c) a record is kept of the sanctions imposed upon pupils for serious misbehaviour.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website:

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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The school now meets the following independent school standards

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