Ingfield Manor School

Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 1 Ingfield Manor School Ingfield Manor School, Ingfield Manor Drive, Five Oaks, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 9AX Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

This is a non-maintained day and residential special school for children aged between three and 19 years. The school provides specialist education for children with neurological motor impairment, such as cerebral palsy, and associated sensory and medical needs. Children follow a conductive education curriculum. Most children stay on a short-break or flexible basis. Others stay for weekly boarding.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The residential special school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 2

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outstanding

Children’s day-to-day experiences are exceptionally positive. Staff ensure that each child receives high-quality individualised care to enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes. This approach helps children to develop their social skills and to form positive relationships with their peers. Staff speak about children with pride, warmth and love. Staff have built excellent and effective relationships with the children. Children like the staff and enjoy spending time with them. Staff are great role models for the children and treat children with respect and dignity.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children have a varied and fulfilling residential experience. Children have access to opportunities that may not have been available to them previously. For example, children took part in a show using their different communication aids; they sang, danced and one even flew, using a hoist.

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outstanding

Children make excellent progress from their starting points. Their communication skills have significantly increased, as have their independence skills and self- confidence. This enabled some children to make a presentation to others on what it is like to have a disability. This was very powerful, pointing out to their peers that they wished to be seen as teenagers and not simply disabled children. Staff are very ambitious for the children and their futures and prepare them well for this. Staff also provide a lot of support for parents when services for the next steps are not the ones that the child or parent wants. For example, they support families through the appeals process if their child does not get the provision of their choice or if it does not meet their needs.

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outstanding

The quality of communication with children is outstanding. Each child has a comprehensive communication plan which includes their primary and secondary method of communication. Staff are extremely skilled in this area.

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outstanding

The level of care and staff practice are exceptional. Staff have extensive knowledge of the children and their care and health needs. Staff are supported by a nursing team who have robust oversight of the children’s health needs. Children’s written plans are comprehensive and provide clear and consistent guidance for staff about how to support children and meet their needs. Children help to contribute to the development of their plans. These are kept under constant review and updated when needed.

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outstanding

Moves into and on from the residential provision are very well managed. The time frame for each child moving in is set at a pace which is best for the child. For example, some children have several tea visits followed by overnight stays, whereas others have a shorter introductory period. Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 3 A research project led by a member of the speech and language team is based on supporting children who are non-verbal or do not have the words to explain any aspect of their care that they are concerned about. All children, no matter what their communication method, are being taught the correct words for parts of their bodies and how to describe how they feel, such as hurting or painful. This innovative approach enables children to alert safe adults if they are concerned about how they are being cared for.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children feel safe and are kept safe by staff. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of the additional vulnerabilities of the children they care for. They receive appropriate training and implement their learning from this training in practice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a strong and positive safeguarding culture throughout the school. Staff work effectively with children to help them to learn how to keep themselves safe. Supporting this approach are the designated safeguarding leads, who are very knowledgeable and have an excellent working relationship with the local authority designated officer. Consequently, safeguarding incidents are very well managed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour management continues to be a strength of the residential staff team. Staff are proactive and use the positive relationships they have built with each child and their knowledge of the children to support them constructively. There has been no use of restraint in the residential provision.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are not risk averse and they carry out robust risk assessments which enable children to safely take part in an extensive range of activities. Risk assessments are comprehensive and provide clear guidance for staff on how to mitigate and reduce risk. Staff work with children to develop their understanding of risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the residential provision. They are experienced and are good role models for the staff team. They are a well-informed and compassionate leadership team who work hard to promote a positive culture that ensures that staff can thrive. In addition, they are very ambitious for the children in their care, as are the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the head of care and team leader. They describe them as very approachable and not only open to ideas but also positively encouraging of them. Leaders and managers value the staff. The team leader sends weekly emails that include updates and praise to staff to show her appreciation for all their work and enable them to feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff received good-quality supervision and training. Supervision is supportive and reflective. When necessary, leaders and managers raise and address practice Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 4 concerns with staff swifty. This is supported by a range of training which is current, meets the children’s needs and supports the development of staff. However, staff mentioned staffing vacancies as an area for improvement. Leaders and managers are aware of this and are actively trying to recruit. Staff have been very flexible in covering additional shifts to prevent any impact on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The chief executive officer and divisional director demonstrated a clear understanding of the vulnerabilities of the children who attend this school, and particularly this residential short-break home. They have quality assurance processes in place to ensure that children are safe and well cared for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from parents is extremely positive. They say that their children love coming to the residential provision and enjoy the activities. They describe the communication from staff as ‘great’, especially the early morning emails, and say that it keeps them fully involved in their child’s lives. Parents also praise the staff for all the work that they do to support families.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 5

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC014584

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Nicola Dodds

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential special school

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Residential special school details

Email address: Ingfield.manor@ambitoeducation.co.uk

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Inspectors

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Joy Howick, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Ingfield Manor School 6 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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