Hambling View Independent School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Hambling View Independent School Lime Yard, Claverton Down Road, Bath BA2 7AE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2, 3, 4  Hambling View Independent School is proposed to be a special school for pupils with a range of complex special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including pupils with moderate learning difficulties, autism and/or social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils will have an education, health and care plan (EHC plan).  The proprietor has appointed a headteacher who is an experienced leader of specialist education. The proprietor has already appointed some staff, who have specialist knowledge in supporting pupils’ personal developmental needs and experience of teaching early reading and phonics. The induction programme aims to ensure that all staff are fully prepared to use effective teaching approaches that consider pupils’ needs and prior attainment.  The curriculum policy sets out how the school will provide a curriculum that meets

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Main inspection findings

pupils’ individual needs. When pupils arrive, staff will provide pupils with a strength and needs assessment. Each pupil will have both an academic and personal development plan which provides a range of what the school calls ‘areas for success’. These are individualised targets to meet pupils’ specific needs.  There is an assessment framework in place. The assessment policy describes how staff will check what pupils know and understand and then use this information to plan teaching. Leaders have plans to support teachers to cater for pupils’ individual needs as set out in their EHC plans. Teachers will check pupils’ progress and review plans for their learning to ensure they are precisely what they need.  Leaders have prepared schemes of work that incorporate all the aspects of the curriculum required by the independent school standards (the standards). Leaders have draft timetables in place that confirm how the schemes of work will be

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Main inspection findings

implemented for pupils from Years 7 to 11.  Teachers will provide an annual written report to keep parents well informed about their child’s progress. They intend to hold meetings with parents and carers to regularly review pupils’ progress against their individualised targets.  The intended curriculum will support pupils to achieve a range of qualifications, including GCSEs in English, mathematics and science. The proprietor aims to provide a range of other options for GCSEs, for example art and geography. The school will offer a range of functional skills at levels 1 and 2, entry-level courses and BTEC National Diploma qualifications.  A relationships and sex education and health education policy is in place and will be published on the school’s website. The curriculum to implement this policy includes everything it should. Leaders state that they will hold staff to account for ensuring that all pupils access this age-appropriate curriculum and it meets pupils’ individual

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Main inspection findings

needs.  Leaders have organised a well-thought-out personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education programme. The curriculum teaches about protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. It will also teach pupils about risks such as drugs and criminal exploitation. Leaders intend that the content in the PSHE education curriculum will build pupils’ self-confidence, self-esteem and independence over time.  Appropriate plans are in place to provide impartial careers education and guidance from Year 7 onwards.  The proprietor is committed to providing the necessary resources so that staff are supported in teaching the intended schemes of work. There is a comprehensive staff training plan. For example, the proprietor intends for all staff to be trained in the teaching of the school’s agreed programme for phonics and early reading. Senior leaders aim to monitor teachers’ work effectively and provide supervision. They aim to

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Main inspection findings

make sure that all staff are well supported.  The proprietor is committed to ensuring that all pupils from Years 7 to 11 receive high-quality physical education (PE). This will take place off site. Detailed plans are already in place for swimming, rugby, football and dance. Some of these facilities are used by an alternative provision (AP) that is operated by the proprietor. The proprietor confirms that when pupils from Hambling View receive PE at this site there will be no pupils attending from the AP.  The governing board and senior leaders intend to check that teachers and other staff use strong subject knowledge when teaching. They will check that teaching builds on what pupils already know.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5  The proprietor has ensured that there is a well-sequenced curriculum in place that stipulates explicitly how it will promote fundamental British values. This includes learning about individual liberty, criminal law and democracy and learning to respect people, including those with protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.  The curriculum will promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The scheme of work identifies how teaching will support pupils to be tolerant and polite and have mutual respect in line with the school’s aims and ethos. The curriculum will teach pupils how to take responsibility for their actions.  In addition to timetabled lessons, a range of whole school event days, visits and visitors are already mapped out.  The standard in this part is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 9, 9(a), 9(b), 10, 12, 13, 14  The proprietor has appointed a headteacher who has previous experience in implementing the guidance set out in ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ and as a designated safeguarding lead. The proprietor, headteacher and chair of governors are knowledgeable in these statutory requirements. For example, they demonstrate a secure understanding of contextual safeguarding risks, the ‘Prevent’ duty, child exploitation and how to spot the signs of abuse. The proprietor has ensured that there will be an effective recording system in place to report safeguarding concerns.  The proprietor and chair of the governing body plan to have regular oversight of safeguarding arrangements at the school through internal monitoring and external evaluation activities. Appropriate training is planned to ensure other newly appointed

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Main inspection findings

staff have the skills and knowledge they need to keep pupils safe.  The proprietor and headteacher have a secure understanding of what constitutes low- level concerns around staff conduct. They know how and when to report and investigate allegations about staff and report these to the local authority designated officer.  Senior leaders have written a behaviour policy and anti-bullying strategy. They have considered how these will be put into practice by staff. Staff induction training will include information for staff about how to implement these policies. Nonetheless, some aspects of the behaviour policy lack precision. For example, the policy does not contain the specific and agreed strategies that specialist school staff will deploy to support pupils’ individual needs.  The proprietor has purchased a system to keep records of any misbehaviour or sanctions. The governing body aims to monitor records of pupils’ misbehaviour as part

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Main inspection findings

of its monthly monitoring. In addition, there are systems in place to alert the proprietor on the same day should any serious incidents occur.  A fire risk assessment was completed in April 2024. Staff have received fire marshal training. Fire safety equipment is installed around the building and is checked regularly. This meets the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  Senior leaders have prepared a first-aid policy. This provides appropriate guidance for staff to administer first aid. It identifies the training that staff will receive and how this will be updated.  The headteacher has drawn up a timetable to ensure the suitable supervision of pupils at social times. An adequate number of staff have been appointed to do this safely.  These standards are likely to be met. Paragraphs 11, 15, 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The proprietor has ensured that the proposed school has a health and safety policy.

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Main inspection findings

However, some aspects of the policy lack detail. In addition, the contents of the policy are not being adhered to. For example, legionella testing is not in place. There have been no water checks completed across the site. There is no system in place to record such checks.  There is no risk assessment policy. The health and safety policy stipulates that the school must maintain a comprehensive set of risk assessments that cover curriculum- based activities in school, school visits and the running of the school building and grounds. At the point of this pre-registration inspection, there was no site risk assessment.  Classrooms are not risk assessed against their intended use. In some cases, this has not been possible because refurbishment work is not complete. For example, a room that the proprietor intends to be used for science and design and technology does not allow for the safe and secure storage of tools. The kitchen area does not yet have

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Main inspection findings

ovens or cooking equipment. Therefore, it is not possible to assess the potential risks of these rooms in full.  Leaders have purchased a system for recording and monitoring pupils’ attendance. However, the proprietor and school leaders do not yet have a secure understanding of the legal requirements to keep an admissions register as set out in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.  These standards are not likely to be met.  Overall, the standards in this part are not likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18 to 21  There is a single central record (SCR). The proprietor has completed the necessary checks to ensure that adults at the school are suitable to work with children. This includes all staff working at the school and the governing body. The proprietor and headteacher demonstrate a secure understanding of safer recruitment procedures.  A headteacher and five other teaching staff and four support staff have already been appointed. All the required checks have been completed for these staff and recorded in the SCR. Leaders do not intend to use supply staff. However, staff responsible for safer recruitment speak knowledgeably about the checks they would need to apply if supply staff were used.  The standards in this part are likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23, 26, 27  The building is in good order. Classrooms are newly decorated, and they are well lit. Acoustics in rooms are suitable. Emergency lighting is in place. Other lighting is in place, where appropriate, to ensure the safe passage of pupils and school users.  Drinking-water is readily available from the mains supply. Leaders are in the process of labelling the drinking-water taps as required.  There are no showers on site. The proprietor does not intend for pupils to have PE on site. The proprietor has secured locations for PE provision locally where showers are available.  These standards are likely to be met. Paragraphs 24, 25, 28, 29  There is no medical room. During this pre-registration inspection, the proprietor began to commission building works to ensure that there is a suitable room with a water supply that has toilet facilities close by.

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Main inspection findings

 There are two toilets. They are lockable from the inside. One is an accessible toilet. However, hot water in both toilets presented a scalding risk. The proprietor is in the process of creating a separate staff toilet.  Hot water in the small kitchen space, which pupils and staff have open access to, also presents a scalding risk. During this pre-registration inspection, the proprietor started to make plans to have regulators fitted on the taps in the kitchens and toilet sinks. A classroom, which is going to be used as a science and design and technology room, is not finished.  At the back of the school there are two small, enclosed areas. One is a very small semi-circular area. Its access is narrow and not suitable for wheelchair users. The other area is suitable for wheelchair users and is big enough to house one piece of equipment, for example a table tennis table or a bench for up to six pupils.

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Main inspection findings

 The front of the school site is open to a busy road. There are double yellow lines on both sides of the road. The proprietor is in the process of seeking advice to ascertain the extent of the parking and turning area that will be required to ensure that school transport can drop off pupils safely on the forecourt of the school site. This area is also shared vehicular access to a neighbouring house to one side of the proposed school. The proprietor aims to provide a secure and safe area for pupils’ recreation at the front of the school by fencing off part of the forecourt. However, at the point of this pre-registration inspection, there was not a secure plan in place. The absence of a gate to protect pupils from the road, the absence of a clear turning area for cars on the forecourt and the absence of a safe area for recreation presents a considerable risk to pupils.  These standards are unlikely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

 Overall, the standards in this part are unlikely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32  The proprietor is at the final stages of building a website. It includes all the relevant policies and documentation that it should. It includes policies describing the school’s approach to managing behaviour, reducing bullying and admission arrangements and the school’s child protection policy.  Contact details for the proprietor and information about the newly formed governing body will be published on the website.  The standard in this part is likely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33  The proprietor has ensured that there is a complaints policy in place. However, it does not set out clearly enough the timescales in which complaints will be dealt with and neither does it make clear that the complainant can be accompanied at a hearing should they wish.  The standard in this part is unlikely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  The proprietor is committed to providing an inclusive and nurturing education for the pupils the school aims to admit. The proprietor has appointed staff who are knowledgeable and understand the requirements of parts 1 and 2 of the standards. The proprietor has ensured that schemes of work are in place to provide a suitable education. The proprietor aims to commission external evaluation to quality assure the education the school provides.  The proprietor is setting up a local governing body to ensure that lines of accountability are sound. A chair of the governing body has been appointed. Several other appointments are underway. Terms of reference, a governor visit policy, the schedule of monitoring and reports that the headteacher is required to provide to the governors and proprietor are already in place.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has ensured that there will be child protection arrangements in place that are in line with current legislation. The proprietor is committed to the training of all staff to ensure that they meet the requirements set out in current legislation and there is a positive and open culture of safeguarding. However, the absence of a risk assessment policy or risk assessments to mitigate the risk on the school site means that pupils’ well-being could be compromised.  The proprietor has not ensured that all the standards in parts 3, 5 and 7 are likely to be met. It has not ensured that the proposed school is likely to meet all the standards consistently were it to be registered.  The standard in this part is unlikely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor is fully aware of the proposed school’s duties under schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. There is an accessibility plan, which is fit for purpose and will be published on the school’s website.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely to meet the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements, as set out in the annex of this report.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Email address browlinson@hamblingview.org

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 0 11 to 16 11 to 16 Number of pupils on the school roll 0 25 21

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recommendation

Reason for inspector’s recommendations  The science and technology classroom is not finished. There are no cupboards for storage of equipment. Therefore, the inspector was not able to assess how many pupils this room could accommodate. In addition, one teaching space will now house a medical room and so cannot be used as a full-time teaching space. This limits the number to a maximum of 21.

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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 0 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 25

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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 0 25

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5 5

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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 proposed school

 The proposed school is located in between residential houses on the main Claverton road, near Bath. There is an area in front of the school that the proprietor intends to use both for pupils’ recreational purposes and turning/parking areas for taxis to drop off pupils at the school. At this pre-registration inspection, neither of these plans were implemented. The site is open to the main road.  The school intends to admit pupils with a range of complex SEND, including pupils with moderate learning difficulties, autism and/or social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils will have an EHC plan.  The proposed school is expected to operate with a governing body. A chair of governors has already been appointed.  The proprietor of this proposed school is Mentoring, Information, Advice and Guidance (MIAG) Independent Schools LTD. The chair of the proprietor board also operates MIAG Limited and MIAG Education LTD. MIAG Education LTD operates three

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Information about this proposed school

unregistered alternative provisions: The Beeches at Brislington, Failand Forest School and Hawthorns Farm.  The proposed school does not intend to use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This pre-registration inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to evaluate the provider’s readiness to open as a school. The inspector checked all relevant standards, including parts 1 to 8.  This was the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection.  The inspector evaluated a range of evidence, including policies and plans relating to each part of the standards. The inspector scrutinised health and safety documentation, including the safeguarding and child protection policy. The inspector checked the school’s staff recruitment and vetting processes and the SCR.  The headteacher undertook all activities relating to parts 1 to 8 alongside the inspector. The proprietor undertook all activities relating to parts 2 to 8 alongside the inspector and headteacher.  The inspector held a conversation with the chair of governors, proprietor and headteacher to establish the accountability structures that they plan to implement.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector undertook a tour of the proposed site with the proprietor and headteacher to evaluate the suitability of the school’s premises for the purposes of being an independent SEND special school.

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Inspection team

Julie Carrington, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006.  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.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including– – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short-term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).  25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 28(1)(d) the temperature of hot water at the point of use does not pose a scalding risk to users.  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)(b) pupils to play outside.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

 33 The standard about the manner in which complaints are handled is met if the proprietor ensures that a complaints procedure is drawn up and effectively implemented which deals with the handling of complaints from parents of pupils and which– – 33(c) sets out clear time scales for the management of a complaint; – 33(h) allows for a parent to attend and be accompanied at a panel hearing if they wish;

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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; and – 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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