Little Acorns School

School material change inspection report

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Little Acorns School London Beach Farm, Ashford Road, St Michael's, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6SR

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b)  The school views the well-being and safety of pupils as its highest priority. Clear systems and procedures continue to be in place to report any concerns about pupils’ welfare. The safeguarding team communicates regularly to ensure pupils are kept safe.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on its website and follows the most recent government guidance.  Leaders clearly demonstrate their close working with local authorities, including timely referrals. A strength of the school’s practice is its safeguarding recording keeping. Information is carefully recorded with clear and factual information.  The curriculum for teaching pupils to lead safe and healthy lives is continually updated to reflect pupils’ lived experiences. Paragraphs 11, 12 and 14  The proprietor body’s oversight of health and safety continues to be effective. With an

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Main inspection findings

additional new building installed for the material change, it has worked proactively with contractors to ensure the school site meets health and safety requirements.  Fire safety has been carefully scrutinised so that the school abides by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This includes building materials, fire extinguishers in classrooms and ways to raise an alarm. The school has well-rehearsed fire evacuation plans and procedures.  With a proposed increase in pupil numbers, the proprietor body continues to implement high staff-to-pupil ratios. Pupils are always supervised by an adult. The school’s leadership team has worked diligently on the arrangements to have more pupils onsite. Paragraph 16 to 16(b)  Risk assessments for the new building sit well alongside existing procedures. The school is thorough in its thinking, particularly around pupils’ personal safety needs. The premises remain in very good condition.

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Main inspection findings

 All of the relevant standards in part 3 are likely to be met if the request for the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b) and 21(5) to 21(6)  The single central record continues to contain all of the required pre-employment checks. The proprietor body has ensured that leaders are fully trained in safer recruitment practices.  At interview, leaders are thorough in exploring a candidate’s suitability to work with vulnerable pupils. The school seeks to employ high-quality staff with the relevant qualifications. All teaching staff have either qualified teacher status or qualified teacher learning and skills status.  The school does not use supply staff due to the specific needs of pupils.  All of the standards in part 4 are likely to be met if the request for the material

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Main inspection findings

change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(2) and 25 to 29(1)(b)  An additional modular building has been installed for the requested material change. This has been well considered and is furnished to a high standard. It complements well the other mobile classrooms and free-standing buildings.  The new building contains two classrooms and a therapy room. The classrooms are well resourced and ready to cater for additional pupils. Also in the building, there are several private cubicles containing separate toilet and washing facilities for boys and girls.  Lighting and acoustics are appropriate with suitable sources of natural light.  The school resides on very spacious land and can easily accommodate an additional building and more pupils. Furthermore, pupils are fortunate to have extensive grounds to play on.  All of the standards in part 5 are likely to be met if the request for the material

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Main inspection findings

change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor body is ambitious and keen to build on the school’s existing successes. There is high demand from commissioning local authorities for the school to admit more pupils. This material change request seeks to expand its good offer in educating pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  The governance structure serves the school well. The advisory board is able to demonstrate how they hold the school to account for meeting the standards. Over time, there is regular support and challenge to ensure the school achieves its strategic aims. However, the recording of the advisory board’s meetings needs to be sharper in documenting its challenge at times, including the school’s educational performance.  A strength of leadership is how school leaders have thought about the gradual

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Main inspection findings

expansion plan. They have communicated well with pupils, staff, parents and carers. The proprietor body is alert to increasing pupil numbers steadily so that the educational provision for all pupils is not negatively impacted. As always, the school makes clear the needs of each pupil are first and foremost in its vision.  All of the standards in this part are likely to be met should the material change request be granted.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

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

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School details

Proprietor Little Acorns London Beach Farm Ltd

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School details

Email address alison.neal@littleacornstc.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7 to 9 November 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 15 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 21 34 34

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School's current position School's proposal

Gender of pupils Mixed Not applicable Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 21 34

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 21 34

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 21 34

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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 21 34

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 6 8

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

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Information about this school

 Little Acorns School has been open for 25 years. It specialises in working with pupils with social, mental health and/or emotional needs between the ages of five and 15 years of age. The majority of pupils on roll are of primary-school age. All pupils have an education, health and care plan and are placed by local authorities.  This material change inspection took place outside of the school’s published term time hours. Therefore, no pupils were onsite.  The lead inspector only inspected the education provision at this school.  The school is not currently using any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to determine if the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed material change of increasing the number of pupils to 34 is implemented.  Inspections are a point-in-time judgement about the quality of a school’s education provision.  The lead inspector considered any continued impact of the pandemic with the school and have taken that into account in his evaluation of the school.  This is the school’s third material change inspection and the first since its last standard inspection in November 2023. All of the previous material change inspections were approved for an increase in pupil numbers.  The inspection focused on: some of the welfare, health and safety standards in part 3, including the supervision of pupils and appropriate deployment of staff; all of the standards in part 4 about the suitability of staff; all of the standards in part 5 on

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Information about this inspection

premises and accommodation; and all of the standards in part 8 for the quality of leadership and management of schools.  The school’s safeguarding procedures were explored by the inspector. He considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first. He also reviewed checks and procedures for the safer recruitment of adults. These requirements of the standards are met.  The inspector held discussions with the headteacher and the representative of the proprietor body. He held a telephone call with the chair of the proprietor body.  The inspector toured the school premises. He also looked at a wide range of documents and policies provided by the school or available via the website.

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Inspection team

James Broadbridge, lead inspector 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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