Cambian Bletchley Park School

Cambian Bletchley Park School Whaddon Way, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK3 7EB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b), 32(1)(c)  Safeguarding children strongly underpins the school’s work. The designated safeguarding leads are knowledgeable and act quickly when responding to concerns raised. This includes timely referrals to children’s services and proactive work with external agencies.  The school ensures that staff are regularly trained and know what signs to spot that might indicate concerns about pupils. Leaders are alert that pupils attending this school come from a wide geographical area. Safeguarding training covers a range of key topics that keep staff aware of possible risks that pupils could face. This includes radicalisation and extremism, online safety and child criminal exploitation.  The proprietor body has ensured that the school has a suitable and up-to-date safeguarding policy, which is published on the school’s website.  The single central record contains all the required information. The school’s leaders

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Main inspection findings

know the vetting checks needed for adults who work at the school and have carried them out.  The school and proprietor body engage well with the local authority in the management of any concerns about adults connected to the school. The school is reflective of its practice and has identified where communication with the local authority designated officer could be further strengthened. Paragraphs 9 to 9(c), 10  Pupils’ behaviour is closely tracked each day. Staff have excellent relationships with pupils and are very caring towards them. Staff interact skilfully in helping pupils to communicate and express their emotions. Assistive technology is used very well to help pupils who have difficulties communicating by speech.  There is a high ratio of adults working with pupils, with this typically being one-to-one for teaching and support. Therefore, bullying incidents are very infrequent.  Pupils are generally calm and focused on their learning and conduct around school.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 11, 16 to 16(b)  The proprietor body has a written health and safety policy which adheres to statutory legislation.  The school’s approach to risk assessments is comprehensive and continually reviewed, taking account of the complex needs of pupils. There are individualised risk assessments for pupils. The school ensures that pupils are always supervised during the school day. Paragraph 15  Appropriate systems are in place to record and monitor pupils’ attendance. Records of admissions adhere to the Education (Pupil Registration) Regulations 2006. Attendance information, including the analysis of patterns and trends, is regularly shared with the proprietor body. Pupils’ attendance is in line with the national average.  The independent school standards (the standards) considered within part 3 are met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders are highly dedicated to promoting pupils’ welfare and well-being. They strive

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Main inspection findings

to prepare pupils for independent living where this is possible.  The school has reached out to its local community to help residents better understand educational provision and care in specialist settings. This includes leaders helping local residents to understand the needs of pupils with autism spectrum disorder, in order to alleviate any concerns they may have. For example, the school has hosted coffee mornings to members of the public. The proprietor body’s strategic plans involve further community engagement with local residents and opportunities for them to see the school in action. This, in turn, is likely to contribute to pupils’ self-esteem and sense of belonging.  The proprietor body has effective systems to monitor the school in continuing to meet the standards. Within its structure, a regional education lead provides strong support and challenge to school leaders. The proprietor body was already alert to an increase

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Main inspection findings

in complaints about the school. It has acted quickly to assure itself that the provision for pupils has remained of good quality since the last standard inspection.  Quality assurance processes are thorough and robust in holding school leaders firmly to account for pupils’ education. Nevertheless, the proprietor body recognises the need for some external mechanisms to help ensure there is impartiality in its evaluation of impact.  The standards for part 8 are met.

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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 were checked during this 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

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 18

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £93,317 to £119,817

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School details

Website www.cambiangroup.com/specialist- education/our-schools/autism- schools/bletchley-park-school/ Email address laura.sharman@cambiangroup.com

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 22 to 24 November 2022

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Information about this school

 Cambian Bletchley Park is an independent special school which caters for pupils with autism. Pupils typically have communication difficulties, behaviour challenges and other related conditions or diagnoses. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Currently, the school admits pupils from 10 different local authorities.  The school is part of the Cambian Group, which is owned by CareTech. Cambian has over 25 schools and colleges across the UK.  The school is not currently using any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was an emergency inspection carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education as a result of concerns. It was conducted without notice.  The inspection team checked the school’s compliance with the standards relating to the welfare, health and safety of pupils and the quality of leadership and management.  Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.  Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors considered any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors met with the headteacher and other staff. The lead inspector held telephone calls with the regional education lead and the operations director of the proprietor body. He held a video call with the local authority to discuss the school’s

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding processes, including managing allegations about adults.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.  Inspectors visited lessons to see pupils’ learning and interactions. They also observed pupils at breaktimes and lunchtime. Where possible, inspectors spoke directly with pupils. Some conversations with non-verbal pupils were in the presence of school staff using other forms of communication strategies.  A range of other documents and policies, including on the school’s website, were reviewed by inspectors.

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Inspection team

James Broadbridge, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Linda Culling 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 looked after children, 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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