Aspiration House School

School material change inspection report

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Aspiration House School Aspiration House, Church Road, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire PE22 0NX

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The school continues to have effective safeguarding procedures. Leaders follow up on any concerns robustly. They record their actions appropriately. Staff receive regular training. They understand the school’s policy and their role within it. Staff understand the added vulnerabilities that the pupils at the school face.  The school has a written safeguarding policy. It is updated annually. It is made available to parents and carers. It aligns with relevant, national guidance.  Leaders plan to introduce a new, electronic record-keeping system. Staff training for this has begun. Paragraphs 11 to 12  The school has a written health and safety policy. It sets out how the school will manage: electrical and oil installations; health and safety checks; hazardous substances; and accident reporting. The school has up-to-date certificates for required

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Main inspection findings

health and safety checks. The school is well underway in ensuring that the proposed, new building has the same checks and processes in place.  The school’s fire detection systems are suitably maintained and effective. A regular programme of tests and checks are in place. A fire risk assessment has been carried out at the existing premises by a competent person. All remedial actions identified in this have been addressed. Leaders are in the process of ensuring that the proposed additional building is subject to the same checks and assessments. Paragraph 14  There are sufficient staff to supervise and support pupils’ well-being. Staff are deployed appropriately. Leaders intend to replicate the current staffing model at the proposed additional site. Paragraphs 16 to 16b  The school has a written risk assessment policy. This sets out how risks will be measured, mitigated for and recorded.  An extensive suite of risk assessments is in place across the school and the proposed

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Main inspection findings

site. These take account of potential risks in the buildings and around the site. Leaders create well-tailored risk assessments for each pupil.  These independent school standards (the standards) are likely to be met should the proposed material change be approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(6)  The school has appropriate procedures in place to recruit the additional staff required should the material change be approved.  Leaders have a secure understanding of the checks that must be carried out before new staff take up their posts.  The school’s single central record, which is up to date, includes all the required recruitment checks.  The proprietor has completed the necessary checks on staff who hold leadership and management responsibilities.  The school does not make use of agency staff. However, leaders know which checks

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Main inspection findings

to make should the school engage agency personnel.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 28(1), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(d)  The current premises and accommodation continue to meet all the standards in this part.  The proposed premises have suitable toilet and washing facilities. Toilet facilities are intended for use by one pupil at a time and will be able to be locked from the inside. There are suitable changing and showering facilities for pupils over the age of 11 who will receive physical education. The hot water in these facilities is of an appropriate temperature. Paragraphs 24(1) to 24(1)(b)  The proposed premises have a dedicated medical room that is near to a toilet facility. Leaders do not intent to use this room for teaching. The room is equipped with a suitably stocked first-aid box.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 25 to 27(b)  The proposed, additional premises provide suitable acoustic conditions. There is appropriate lighting throughout. There is external lighting to the front of the premises. Leaders intend to extend this to cover the outdoor area that pupils will use.  The current school premises are maintained to a standard that ensure the welfare of pupils. Work is well underway to ensure that the proposed premises will mirror this. Paragraphs 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(c), 28(2) to 28(2)(b)  Leaders intend to provide drinking water facilities on both the lower and upper floors in the proposed building. These will be clearly marked as such and will be accessible at all times when the building is in use. Paragraphs 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  The proposed additional premises have a suitable outside space for pupils to play in and for physical education.  The standards relating to premises and accommodation are likely to be met at both

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Main inspection findings

premises if the proposed material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders have planned well for this material change. They demonstrate good knowledge and skills relating to the standards checked during this inspection.  The standards checked are likely to be met across both sites should the material change be approved.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the material change is agreed.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £45,600 to £62,400

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School details

Email address julie.white@vals-place.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 16 to 18 November 2021

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 7 to 18 7 to 18 7 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 12 24 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 12 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils 0 As required

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 12 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 12 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 12 24

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 7 14

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Information about this school

 The school is located at Church Road, Freiston, Boston PE22 0NX.  The school provides full-time education for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities aged between seven and 18 years. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  Pupils have a range of learning difficulties, including those associated with autism.  The school can admit boys and girls. However, at the time of this inspection there were only boys on the school’s roll.  Pupils who are above the compulsory school age receive a curriculum that is appropriate to their stage of education, including preparing them for adulthood.  The school does not use the services of any alternative providers.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education commissioned this inspection to consider the school’s application to increase the number of pupils it admits and to make use of a second site. This would be at Inspire House, located at Lincoln Road, Holton-Cum-Beckering, Market Rasen, LN8 5NG.  This was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  The inspection was announced with two days’ notice.  The inspector considered whether the relevant requirements in parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 of the standards are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  The inspector met with the headteacher, the deputy headteacher and the chair of the proprietorial body. He visited the premises at both sites. He spoke informally with pupils. He held a discussion with a group of staff. He considered a range of evidence, including documents relating to health and safety, risk assessment and fire safety. The

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Information about this inspection

inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including checks on the single central record.

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Inspection team

Vic Wilkinson, 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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