Imperial Oak School

School material change inspection report

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Imperial Oak Preparatory School 134a New Kent Road, London SE1 6TU

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided All paragraphs, including paragraphs in part 2  The school has in place suitable curriculum plans and schemes of work. These cover a range of subjects and are appropriate from the Reception Year to Year 6. Leaders have purchased a commercial scheme to support their newly developed specialist curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has established different curriculum ‘pathways’ which are planned and sequenced to meet pupils’ specific needs, including their social, communication and language needs. The proposed plans are designed to meet the needs of pupils with autism and those with specific and severe learning difficulties.  The school’s assessment procedures have been amended to align with the new curriculum model. Leaders have established systems for capturing pupils’ achievements and sharing these with parents and carers. The school has a suitable

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Main inspection findings

framework in place for checking pupils’ progress through the curriculum subjects and along the different pathways.  The school’s provision for personal, social, health and economic education continues to be appropriate. Leaders understand how this will be adjusted to align with the new curriculum so that it is suitable for pupils with SEND.  Leaders have already started the recruitment process for teachers and support staff with the relevant experience and qualifications. The school has established partnerships with other special schools, local authorities and national organisations to help shape the programme of professional development for staff.  The school continues to comply with the independent school standards related to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils. Leaders have worked out where policies or curriculum plans need to be adapted to meet the proposed changes

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Main inspection findings

to the school’s age range and cohort.  The independent school standards checked in parts 1 and 2 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented. In addition, these standards are likely to be met in relation to pupils with SEND, including pupils with autism, if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16, 16(a), 16(b) and 32(1)(c)  Leaders continue to demonstrate a secure understanding of their roles and statutory responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.  The school’s safeguarding policy has been updated to reflect the latest safeguarding legislation. The policy is appropriate and available to parents online and in hard copy.  Leaders have ensured that the proposed safeguarding training for new staff pays close attention to the additional vulnerabilities of pupils with SEND. The school continues to have suitable safeguarding arrangements in place for reporting and recording concerns about pupils’ well-being.  Leaders have carefully considered the school’s health and safety procedures in light of the proposed changes to the age range of pupils. Policies and procedures now reflect the school’s proposal to admit only pupils with SEND. Leaders have further developed

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Main inspection findings

the school’s risk assessments to include individualised plans for pupils with SEND. The school’s fire safety arrangements continue to be in place and appropriate. Leaders have made some changes to the school site over the past year. The school now has therapy and sensory rooms. The schools fire, health and safety and risk assessments include these new spaces.  Leaders have appropriate plans in place to recruit and appoint additional staff before they admit pupils.  The independent school standards checked in part 3 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors All paragraphs  The school’s single central record is compliant. It contains all the required staff suitability checks. The appropriate vetting checks have been carried out and recorded appropriately.  Leaders’ plans to recruit new staff to the school are well considered. These reflect the statutory guidance. The school intends to recruit suitably trained staff with the expertise and qualifications to work with pupils with SEND. Leaders’ recruitment procedures, including the proposed new job descriptions, reflect these intentions.  The independent school standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools All paragraphs  The school’s premises continue to be suitable. Leaders intend to reduce the school’s capacity to a maximum of 24 pupils. The three classrooms and the early years area

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Main inspection findings

will comfortably accommodate this number of pupils. Leaders intend for classes to have approximately eight pupils in each. These rooms are suitable and have the space needed for pupils to work in different-sized groups, including individually at workstations if this is required. The rooms have sufficient space to accommodate a high staff-to-pupil ratio.  The classrooms, including in early years, continue to be very well resourced. Recently, leaders have enhanced this further by purchasing a range of equipment to meet the needs of pupils with SEND, including those in Years 3 to 6.  The school’s new sensory and therapy rooms are suitable in size. They are well resourced. Leaders intend to develop these further based on prospective pupils’ individual therapy needs. Leaders have considered how pupils will use all parts of the school. There is sufficient storage space for the additional resources needed for SEND

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Main inspection findings

provision.  The school has two entrances. One of these has additional space for vehicles to drop off and collect pupils, including pupils who may use transport organised by their local authorities.  As the school intends to increase the age range to include pupils up to the age of 11, leaders now have separate toilet facilities for boys and girls. The medical room is likely to continue to be suitable. The arrangements for outdoor play and physical education are likely to continue to be suitable. The acoustics and lighting in all spaces are likely to continue to be suitable.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools All paragraphs  Leaders continue to demonstrate a strong understanding of the independent school standards. The headteacher has worked closely with the school’s head of operations to prepare for this material change request.  Current leaders have suitable knowledge and expertise in education and specifically in supporting pupils with SEND. Leaders have established partnerships with the local authority and other special schools to ensure that, if the material change is approved, they have continued support and advice to inform the school’s work.  The school is in the process of finalising its advisory board. Members of this board have been selected and are currently completing the required vetting checks. Leaders have suitable arrangements in place for the advisory board to offer support and challenge as the school develops further.  The standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if the material change is

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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

Email address info@imperialoakschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 4 to 7 4 to 11 4 to 11

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 0 24 24

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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 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 0 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 0 24

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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 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 1 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 11

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Information about this school

 Imperial Oak Preparatory School first opened in October 2023. Since it opened, there have been no pupils on roll. The school is registered to admit up to 48 pupils. At the time of this material change inspection, there were no pupils on roll.  The school currently employs a headteacher and uses the services of a head of operations. Together, they have overseen the material change request and have implemented changes to various aspects of the school.  The school has not yet had its first standard inspection.  The school does not use or intend to use any alternative provision.  Currently, the annual school fees are £16,000. If the material change is approved, the fees will range from £65,000 to £75,000.

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Information about this inspection

 The proprietor has applied for a material change to increase the age range of pupils to admit pupils up to the age of 11. The proprietor has also applied to reduce the maximum number of pupils from 48 to 24. The proprietor has requested to admit only pupils with SEND and to become an independent special school setting. The school proposes to cater for pupils with autism and pupils with speech, language and communication needs. The school proposes also to cater for pupils with specific learning difficulties.  The DfE commissioned Ofsted to conduct this material change inspection and to report against the school’s compliance with the independent school standards in parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. This inspection was announced with two days’ notice.  This is the school’s first material change inspection.  The inspector held meetings with leaders, toured the premises and scrutinised documentation in order to check compliance with the independent school standards.

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Information about this inspection

The inspector considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including checks on the single central record.

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Inspection team

Gary Rawlings, 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

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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