The Lowen School

Inspection of The Lowen School Lower Dimson Farm, Gunnislake, Cornwall PL18 9NS

p.1

Inspection dates: 12 to 14 November 2024

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

The quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

p.1

Overall effectiveness Outstanding

Does the school meet the independent school standards?

p.1

What is it like to attend this school?

Many pupils have missed a lot of schooling by the time they arrive at The Lowen School. However, pupils are nurtured through warm, positive relationships with staff and highly individualised curriculums. The school prioritises the social, emotional, academic and physical development of each pupil. Pupils are very positive about school and thrive as learners. They are exceptionally well prepared for the world beyond school.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

The school plans the curriculum with expertise and precision, ensuring that the special educational needs and/or disabilities of each pupil is addressed with rigour. Pupils’ engagement with learning is supported extremely well by staff. Consequently, pupils flourish.

p.2

What is it like to attend this school?

Pupils participate fully in school life. They develop highly effective knowledge about their roles as citizens. For example, all pupils are in the school council, where they make positive changes to the school, such as the introduction of recycling containers. Pupils learn about their local community and the world beyond in impressive detail. For instance, pupils attend the Callington May Day celebrations. Pupils visit the local shops and parks as well as learning sports such as canoeing and skiing. Pupils are supported to interact with each other with kindness, empathy and respect. Pupils form strong friendships.

p.2

better?

The school prioritises the development of pupils’ communications skills. Depending on the needs of each pupil, the school implements a highly bespoke approach to communication. For example, throughout the school, pupils are immersed in learning to read visual symbols accompanied by whole words. In addition, some pupils learn to sign, while others are supported to learn phonics. The precision with which staff develop individual pupil’s communication skills is exceptional. Pupils are supported and enabled to communicate their needs and views about the world around them very well.

p.2

better?

Through a highly personalised curriculum, pupils are very well prepared for the adult world. Pupils learn about the world through a breadth of stories. For example, pupils learn to identify different emotions, such as happiness, through the responses of characters. Staff adapt the ways in which they teach such stories, ensuring the engagement of pupils. Through stories, pupils also learn about healthy relationships and the importance of consent in a range of settings. As a result, pupils develop progressively greater understanding of the world around them.

p.2

better?

Pupils’ physical development is prioritised across the curriculum. Pupils develop mobility, strength and enhanced concentration. The Forest School is a very well- structured resource that supports pupils’ physical and mental health. Through immersion in the natural world, pupils learn about the seasons and identify trees 12 to 14 November 2024 and animals. Pupils’ sensory needs are continually addressed throughout the curriculum. As a result, pupils are enthused by learning and thrive.

p.2

better?

The school uses the breadth of information about each pupil to inform what pupils learn and how they learn in English and mathematics. Leaders and staff continually check what pupils know and do not know, ensuring that pupils build on their prior knowledge. Pupils learn about number and shape in a range of ways that suit the learning needs of pupils exceptionally well. For instance, some pupils listen attentively to adults counting, while others rearrange shapes on the interactive board. As a result, the curriculum enables each pupil to excel.

p.3

better?

The school’s approach to managing pupils’ behaviour is outstanding. Using the breadth of information about each pupil, the school ensures that their emotional, social, sensory and physical needs are addressed robustly. Through bespoke approaches, pupils’ attitudes to learning are very strong. Relationships between staff and pupils are nurturing and highly personalised. Pupils learn how to interact in social settings very well. Similarly, through individualised approaches, attendance issues are resolved swiftly. Consequently, pupils’ attendance is very strong.

p.3

better?

The school prepares pupils exceptionally well for life beyond school. Pupils have a breadth of well-planned opportunities to interact with the local community. Consequently, pupils’ communication and social interaction skills develop very well. Pupils learn through highly personalised activities about the world of work, volunteering and life in the wider community. Leaders are aspirational for pupils to live positive, rewarding lives as adults.

p.3

better?

Leadership is exceptional. Their expertise and vision have shaped the curriculum. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the training opportunities alongside the support for their workload and well-being. The school is supported well by the proprietors and governors. The school meets all of the independent school standards. The proprietor ensures that the school complies with Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. Parents who responded to the online questionnaire were unanimous in their praise of the school in transforming their children’s ability to communicate their thinking and their needs.

p.3

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

or to find out what other parents and carers think. We use information from Ofsted Parent View when deciding which schools to inspect, when to inspect them and as part of their inspection.

p.3

How can I feed back my views?

The Department for Education has further guidance on how to complain about a school. 12 to 14 November 2024

p.3

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.4

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £72,500 to £107,000

p.4

School details

Email address admin@southwestcomplexcare.com

p.4

School details

Dates of previous inspection 1 to 3 February 2022 12 to 14 November 2024

p.4

Information about this school

 The Lowen School is an independent special school for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many pupils have a diagnosis of autism. All pupils have an education, health and care plan. Pupils’ placements are funded by Cornwall, Plymouth and Devon local authorities.  The school opened in February 2021.  Since the previous standard inspection, in February 2022, Ofsted carried out material change inspections of the school in October 2022, October 2023 and March 2024. These inspections considered the school’s requests to expand the age range and progressively increase the number of pupils on roll.  This is the only school run by the proprietor, South West Complex Care Services.  The school does not use alternative provision.

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The purpose of the inspection is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s suitability for continued registration as an independent school.

p.5

Information about this inspection

The school meets the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

p.5

Information about this inspection

 Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors discussed any continued impact of the pandemic with leaders and have taken that into account in their evaluation of the school.  Inspectors held discussions with the headteacher and members of the leadership team.  Inspectors held discussions with directors and the chair of the proprietor board of South West Complex Care Ltd.  Inspectors carried out deep dives in early reading, English, mathematics and personal, social and health education. In each subject, inspectors met with senior and curriculum leaders, talked to pupils, visited lessons, spoke to teachers and looked at examples of pupils’ work.  Inspectors also discussed the curriculum in some other subjects.  Inspectors met with staff to consider their views.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspectors: reviewed the single

p.5

Information about this inspection

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. 12 to 14 November 2024  Inspectors considered the views of parents and carers who responded to the confidential questionnaire for parents, Ofsted Parent View. They evaluated the views of staff from the Ofsted online questionnaires.

p.5

Inspection team

Susan Aykin, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

p.6

Inspection team

James Gentile His Majesty’s Inspector 12 to 14 November 2024 to 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.

p.6

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection team

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7