Fieldgate School

School material change inspection report

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Fieldgate School Mill Field Road, Fishlake, Doncaster DN7 5GH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b)  At the school’s last standard inspection, these independent school standards (the standards) were met.  The proprietor body has published a clear and up-to-date safeguarding policy on the school website. This policy is enhanced with detailed information pertinent to the specific safeguarding arrangements for the school.  The school has a comprehensive understanding of the individual needs of the pupils, who all have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Leaders currently use this understanding effectively to ensure that there are robust safeguarding procedures in place. They are clear on how these will be applied if the material change is granted and the number of pupils on roll increases.  The school has created a strong safeguarding culture. The proprietor body ensures that policies to safeguard and support the welfare of the pupils are consistently

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Main inspection findings

implemented. Specialist services to support and inform pupils regarding safety are used effectively.  Staff know pupils well. They receive regular safeguarding training. The school ensures that important information is shared with staff appropriately to safeguard pupils.  The proprietor body promotes a culture of continuous reflection and review of safeguarding practices. The school’s designated safeguarding leads meet weekly to discuss any concerns they receive. They analyse these to ensure all necessary actions have been taken in a timely and effective manner.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material change. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14, 16(a),16(b)  At the last inspection, these standards were met.  The proprietor body has published the health and safety policy on the school’s website

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Main inspection findings

and provides effective oversight of how it is implemented. It ensures that records of all safety checks are monitored and that each of the school’s provisions are well maintained.  The school’s fire equipment is regularly checked. Staff receive training regarding fire procedures, and the school ensures that these are well understood.  At the time of the material change inspection, a number of the fire extinguishers were not easily accessible on one of the school sites. This was rectified during the visit and the policy adjusted to ensure that this does not happen again.  The proprietor body reviews pupils’ individual needs carefully and ensures that staff are deployed effectively. Pupils form positive relationships with staff. The school ensures that staff have a secure understanding of each pupil’s needs and behaviours. The staff recognise that, at times, some pupils may exhibit dysregulated behaviour.

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Main inspection findings

Staff receive extensive training and support to help pupils when this occurs. Leaders have clear plans in place for the recruitment of suitable staff prior to any further pupils being admitted, should the material change request be successful.  Pupils, in each school provision, are supervised closely. This enables them to access the full range of the school’s offer of ‘without walls’ learning. This means pupils can learn in the secure, extensive grounds of the school safely and effectively.  The proprietor body adjusts the generic risk assessment policy to address any risks specific to each of the three different sites the school operates from.  Two of the school’s sites are based in rural, outdoor settings. Leaders plan for the use of the different settings effectively to enable pupils to learn and develop self- confidence through different activities. The school has thought carefully about any

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Main inspection findings

risks associated with all activities. It ensures that staff are well informed regarding risks. It is clear about how individual adaptations may be needed to support pupils with SEND.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

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(7)(b)  These standards were met at the previous standard inspection in April 2023.  The school continues to keep the single central record up to date to record the checks that are made on staff before their appointment.  On occasion, the school employs supply staff. It ensures that all relevant checks are made on these staff prior to them working in the school.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c)  These standards were met at the time of the last inspection.  Fieldgate School consists of three separate facilities situated in Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. The leaders utilise the different provisions carefully to support the

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Main inspection findings

differing needs of each pupil. The Fieldgate and Gulliver’s Activity Centre provisions consist of different teaching spaces, set within rural grounds. The Meadowview provision is situated within a primary school in Rotherham. Leaders focus on finding the correct provision to meet the needs of individual pupils. This means that pupils may attend different provisions at different times during their time at the school.  All the school’s provisions have appropriate toilet facilities, including accessible toilets. Both the Fieldgate and the Gulliver’s Activity Centre provisions have suitable shower facilities for the use of pupils aged 11 years or older. Pupils who attend the Meadowview provision do not currently attend full time and do not receive physical education while there. Paragraphs 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  Leaders have ensured that the Fieldgate and Gulliver’s Activity Centre provisions have

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Main inspection findings

a dedicated medical area available for the medical and therapy needs of the pupils. On the Fieldgate site, this also includes a dedicated therapy caravan to support the social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs of the pupils. Any pupils educated on the Meadowview site work individually with staff. This enables the staff to address any medical or therapy needs on an individual basis, within the primary school setting. Paragraphs 25, 26, 27(a), 27(b)  All the classrooms, in each provision, are light, bright and airy. The lighting and acoustics are suitable for the purpose each area is used for. Leaders have given careful thought to how the areas are organised to support pupils to access learning both on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. Areas utilised to support pupils’ SEMH needs are carefully planned to build enjoyment, interest and independence. Paragraphs 28(1), 28(1)(a), 28(1)(b), 28(1)(c), 28(1)(d), 28(2), 28(2)(a), 28(2)(b)

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Main inspection findings

 Pupils attending each setting have access to drinking-water in individual bottles. These are replenished by staff, when needed, from suitably labelled sources. Washing facilities are also available in each setting. The temperature of the hot water is monitored regularly to ensure there is no risk of scalding. Paragraphs 29(1), 29(1)(a), 29(1)(b)  The Fieldgate and Gulliver’s Activity Centre settings promote outdoor learning. Pupils have extensive space to explore and develop their physical skills. At Fieldgate, leaders have recently added an all-weather surface to expand the opportunities pupils have to play sport throughout the year. Other areas include a play barn, outdoor dens, an orchard and a forest school area. These areas are all suitably risk assessed to ensure the safety of pupils.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1), 32(1)(c)  These standards were met at the time of the last inspection.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on its website. It is informed by the relevant statutory guidance and is reviewed annually.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c)  These standards were met at the time of the last inspection.  The proprietor body and the school leaders have a clear rationale for seeking the material change to the numbers of pupils on roll. They show passion and determination to offer access to education for pupils with SEND, while retaining the quality of provision identified at the time of the last inspection.  Leaders implement the school’s quality assurance systems effectively to identify strengths and areas to improve in the school.  The proprietor body has demonstrated effective understanding of any challenges that may arise when the numbers of pupils on roll increase. To mitigate these challenges, it is clear that the expansion to 45 pupils will be implemented gradually.  The proprietor body has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if

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Main inspection findings

the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  At the start of this inspection, while there was an accessibility plan for the Fieldgate site, the school had not put this in place for the Gulliver’s Activity Centre provision. This was rectified during the inspection. The school is therefore compliant with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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) £46,800 to £81,700

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School details

Website https://five- rivers.org/education/schools/field-gate- school/ Email address sarah.weston@five-rivers.org

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 21 to 28 April 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 6 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 30 45 45

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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 28 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 30 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 30 45

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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 30 45

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Will increase staffing prior to admitting new pupils

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 3 3

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Information about this school

 The school’s previous standard inspection took place in April 2023, when the school was judged to meet all of the requirements of the standards.  Fieldgate School is an independent special school that provides specialist education for up to 30 pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Many pupils currently attending have not accessed education for an extended period prior to joining the school. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Their needs include social, emotional and mental health needs and autism.  Fieldgate School is operated by Five Rivers Child Care Ltd. The school’s main site is based in Doncaster. The school also has other provisions based in Gulliver’s Activity Centre, Sheffield and a primary classroom within Meadowview Primary School in Rotherham.  The school offers education provision via its ‘school without walls’. This enables them to support pupils who have had limited success in formal education settings or who

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Information about this school

have previously struggled in specialised settings. The school’s offer of 1ACE: Another Chance Education focuses on identifying pupils’ interests and then building personalised learning opportunities around them.  The school’s educational staff work alongside therapeutic staff in meeting the pupils’ needs.  The school does not have a religious ethos.  The school offers some education provision remotely. This is delivered by members of staff employed and managed by the school.  The school currently uses four unregistered alternative provisions for some pupils. This enables pupils to access horse riding, swimming and joinery lessons.

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Information about this inspection

 This was a material change inspection carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the school’s proposal to increase the number of pupils on roll from 30 to 45.  This is the first material change sought by the school.  The inspectors met with the headteacher and representatives of the proprietor body, including the chair.  The inspectors reviewed documentation relating to the welfare and safety of the pupils, the safe recruitment of staff and the implementation of the health and safety policy.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.

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Inspection team

Andrea Batley, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Matthew Harrington 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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