Edstart

School material change inspection report

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Edstart EdStart Specialist Education, 5 Gerald Road, Salford M6 6DW

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The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school’s safeguarding policy is published online. It pays regard to the most up-to- date statutory guidance. It includes specific consideration for the needs of the pupils who attend the school. Leaders carry out regular checks on the culture of safeguarding and make continual improvements to how pupils are reliably kept safe.  There is a senior designated safeguarding lead (DSL) who oversees the safeguarding systems and procedures across the six school sites. This includes making sure that all staff have relevant and up-to-date training that reflects the different contextual safeguarding risks at each site. The induction package for new staff is comprehensive. This ensures that they know leaders’ expectations for identifying, reporting and recording safeguarding concerns. Paragraphs 11, 12, 16, 16(a), 16(b)

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Main inspection findings

 There is a health and safety policy in place that ensures that all buildings are a safe space for pupils to learn. The new premises are already being used and are suitable for the number of pupils educated at the site. Fire safety checks are carried out regularly, in addition to frequent evacuation drills. The proprietor has ensured compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.  The risk assessment policy suitably sets out the procedures for identifying risks and carrying out risk assessments. Risk assessments show that leaders take appropriate actions to mitigate risks. There are risk assessments for individual pupils, as well as for trips out of school. Paragraph 14  The number of staff is sufficient for the adequate supervision of the proposed number of pupils on roll. Leaders take care to appoint staff, where possible, with the experience and expertise to understand and meet the needs of pupils who attend the

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Main inspection findings

school.  All the independent school standards (the standards) and requirements checked in these parts are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2), 18(2)(a), 18(2)(b), 18(2)(c), 18(2)(c)(i) to 18(2)(c)(iv), 18(2)(d), 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2), 19(2)(a), 19(2)(a)(i) to 19(2)(a)(i)(dd), 19(2)(a)(ii), 19(2)(b) to 19(2)(d), 19(2)(d)(i), 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6), 20(6)(a) to 20(6)(a)(ii), 20(6)(b), 20(6)(b)(i) to 20(6)(b)(iii), 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3), 21(3)(a), 21(3)(a)(i) to 21(3)(a)(viii), 21(3)(b), 21(4), 21(5), 21(5)(a), 21(5)(a)(i), 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(b), 21(5)(c), 21(6), 21(7) to 21(7)(b)  The single central record (SCR) is in place. It covers the staff employed at each of the school sites, including those staff, contractors and visitors who may work across the sites. Records relating to the checks on the members of the proprietor body are included on the SCR, including those relating to leadership and management suitability.  Relevant staff have had safer recruitment training. This enables them to check that

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Main inspection findings

the record of recruitment checks meets statutory guidance. These checks are completed before staff start their employment.  When agency staff are employed, the school has clear systems and procedures for seeking assurances that the necessary recruitment checks have been carried out. Leaders are familiar with the procedures for the necessary checks for staff who have spent time overseas.  All the standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a) to 23(1)(c), 28(1) to 28(1)(d), 28(2) to 28(2)(b)  The new, sixth school site is a single-storey modern building that has been maintained to a high standard. The accommodation consists of a large hall, several teaching spaces, offices and a medical room. The five other sites were also visited as part of this inspection.  Across the sites, there are appropriate toilet and washing facilities, including hot and cold water. Toilet cubicles are lockable from the inside for privacy. Water is set to an appropriate temperature. Drinking-water is clearly labelled. Pupils can access drinking- water throughout the school day.  Physical education takes place off site using local facilities. Pupils are able to access showers and changing areas at these facilities. Paragraphs 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  There are suitable medical rooms on all six sites. These have a sink and are located

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Main inspection findings

near to a toilet. The medical rooms contain a bed and a first-aid kit. Most medical rooms have suitable storage for medication. The school provides logs for staff to record any first-aid treatment or the administration of medication. Paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b)  The accommodation across the six sites is fit for purpose. Most accommodation is clean and tidy. The acoustics and lighting are suitable for the purpose of each room. There is external lighting that covers all exits to ensure that staff, visitors and pupils can safely enter and exit the school sites in the hours of darkness. Paragraphs 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  Pupils have access to suitable on-site and off-site areas for play and physical education.  All the standards in this part are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor understands the standards well. There are effective systems in place to regularly monitor compliance across the six sites.  The school’s leadership team have the knowledge and skills that they need to ensure that the school continues to meet the requirements of the standards. This includes the implications of the increased numbers of pupils on roll. The proprietor’s and leaders’ plans for further improvement are specific and detailed and focus on the aspects of the school that will make the biggest impact on the quality of education that pupils receive.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The accessibility plan meets the school’s statutory responsibilities.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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 compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Proprietor EdStart Specialist Education Ltd

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School details

Headteacher Kevin Buchanan (Executive headteacher) Dympna Woods (Executive headteacher) Annual fees (day pupils) £16,800 to £59,000

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 20 to 22 June 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 11 to 16 11 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 158 170 170

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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 158 170

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 138 129

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 59 41

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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 59 41

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 22 22

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 42 42

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection was 20 to 22 June 2023.  There are two executive headteachers in position who jointly oversee the leadership and management of the school.  The school’s main site is located at 5 Gerald Road, Salford, M6 6DW. There are additional premises at Castle Hill Youth Centre, Castleton Street, Bolton, BL2 2JW; 13- 15 Broad Street, Bury, BL6 5NZ; 11 Church Lane, Oldham, OL1 3AW; and 130 Sale Road, Northern Moor, M23 0BX. The proposed new premises are located at Horwich Youth Centre, Fox Street, Bolton, NL6 5NZ.  Some pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan for social, emotional and mental health needs.  Leaders make use of three registered and one unregistered alternative provision for a small number of pupils.  The school has already implemented the requested material change to increase its capacity. It has exceeded the maximum number of pupils on roll that it is registered to

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Information about this school

admit. The school is registered to admit up to 135 pupils. There are currently 158 pupils on roll. The school has requested to admit up to 170 pupils.  At the point of the inspection, there was one pupil on roll who was outside of the age range that the school is registered to admit. This pupil will be leaving the school at the end of the academic year.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this material change inspection to evaluate the school’s likely compliance with the relevant standards if the DfE approves the proprietor’s request to increase the pupil capacity from 135 to 170.  This was the first material change inspection in respect of an increase of the school’s capacity since the school’s standard inspection on 20 to 22 June 2023.  Inspectors checked those aspects of safeguarding that were directly linked to the material change application.  Inspectors met with the chair of the proprietor body, the two executive headteachers and the senior DSL.  Inspectors made a tour of all sites to check the suitability of the premises against the relevant standards. They met with the heads of school for each of these sites who are also the DSLs.  Inspectors also looked at the range of documentation and policies relevant to the material change request. These included health and safety, fire safety and risk

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Information about this inspection

assessment documentation. Inspectors also checked documentation relating to safeguarding.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Pippa Jackson-Maitland 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Inspection team

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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