The Llewellyn School and Nursery

School material change inspection report

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The Llewellyn School and Nursery Quex Park Estate, Birchington, Kent, Margate, Kent CT7 0BB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1)(c)  The safeguarding policy is up to date, comprehensive and published on the school’s website. The policy reflects current guidance from the Department of Education (DfE). It also takes into account the particular vulnerabilities of pupils. Internet safety is carefully considered, and the school’s filtering and monitoring systems have recently been reviewed and strengthened. The school has ensured that designated safeguarding leaders are appropriately trained to carry out their roles.  The ‘teething difficulties’ in the school’s online safeguarding system, identified at the last standard inspection, have now been resolved. Safeguarding records are detailed and reflect the school’s ongoing work to ensure that pupils get the help they need to remain safe and well.  The proprietor ensures that all leaders involved in recruitment have been trained in

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Main inspection findings

safer recruitment. Leaders have a clear understanding of safer recruitment processes, and personnel records evidence that these processes are followed. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16 to 16(b)  Health and safety are central to the school’s work. The school’s health and safety policy is effectively implemented. The proprietor ensures that all staff are vigilant as to any arising risks. Pupil’s individual needs, disabilities and medical complexities are carefully taken into account throughout all activities.  The proprietor is rigorous in ensuring that staff have the right medical training to care for every pupil. This includes paediatric first aid training.  The school ensures ongoing compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The school’s fire risk assessment is kept up to date, and used to ensure that fire precautions, the provision of equipment, training and information are as

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Main inspection findings

effective as possible.  Staff to pupil ratios are consistently high, reflecting the complex needs of pupils. Staff are trained to understand pupils’ medical needs so that these can be effectively managed and responded to within the school day. The proprietor has carefully considered the additional staffing that would be required if the material change were approved, including in the early years.  There is a clear risk assessment policy in place. There is ongoing individual risk assessment that takes account of each pupil’s special educational need and/or disability (SEND) to support pupils take part in planned activities on and offsite. This manages the risks associated with the wide range of enriching activities on offer. The school takes prompt action when risk is harder to mitigate, and pupils may need an alternative activity.  At the time of the last material change, it was considered that additional pupil

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Main inspection findings

numbers above 20 would compromise pupils’ welfare, health and safety because the accommodation available was not big enough. Since this inspection, the school’s facilities have been extensively redeveloped, and the site expanded. The school is now in a position to safely and comfortably accommodate 35 pupils, including pupils who need support with their mobility.  All relevant standards assessed in part 3 are likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 21(1) to 21(3)(b) and 21(6)  The school ensures that all staff, and those responsible for governance, are suitable for the post they occupy. It carries out all required checks prior to employment commencing. Details of these checks are contained in the school’s single central record, which is compliant with current guidelines and contains all the information

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Main inspection findings

required.  Pre-employment checks are thorough. If the material change is approved, systems and procedures for the recruitment of new staff and checks on adults will likely continue to be fit for purpose.  The school does not use supply staff.  All relevant standards in part 4 are likely to be met if the proposed material change is approved. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 29(2)  The school is located within modern purpose-built accommodation. At the time of the last material change, the school site was not large enough to accommodate more than 20 pupils. Since this time, the proprietor has redeveloped the main school building, adding additional classrooms and specialist learning spaces. Additional classrooms have been built on the school site. The proprietor has very carefully considered each pupil’s well-being and dignity when redeveloping the school’s premises. All classrooms are designed with the needs of the pupils in mind. For

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Main inspection findings

example, sufficient accessible toilets, medical and care facilities are directly accessible from classrooms.  The proprietor has ensured suitable medical facilities are available to enable the school to effectively care for pupils with complex medical needs.  The entire school is accessible, including extensive outdoor play and recreation facilities. The site reflects the proprietor’s determination that every pupil is able to access and fully participate in school life.  Specialist teaching areas are now in place to widen the curriculum for children and young people. These include a fully accessible kitchen for food technology and a design and technology suite. An additional facility has been created to enable the school to better cater for more pupils with complex needs. The school now has, for example, better hoist facilities for the movement of pupils.  The school ensures that extensive outdoor facilities are fully accessible to all pupils.

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Main inspection findings

These areas now include: an outdoor multi-use games area; a wheelchair-accessible outdoor learning and forest area; playground areas designed to support each pupil to be able to participate and play and multiple animal enclosures that enable pupils to learn about and participate in animal care.  Every area of the school is maintained to an exceptionally high standard.  The school engages with external providers, including a local secondary school and a specialist music teaching service, to further broaden and enrich pupils’ educations. Pupils access further specialist accommodation, equipment and teaching through these arrangements.  Part 5 is likely to be met if the material change is approved. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The school has clear systems to ensure that the independent school standards remain consistently met.  The proprietor, who is also the headteacher, is supported in her role by a well-

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Main inspection findings

established governing board, as well as a wider leadership team. There is clarity about who is responsible for what within the school.  The proprietor has now ensured that the school’s accommodation reflects her ambition to grow the school and be able to provide a greater number of pupils with SEND and complex medical needs with an inclusive and high-quality education.  Part 8 is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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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

Proprietor The Llewellyn School and Nursery CIC

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £58,000 to £68,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28 to 30 June 2022

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 2 to 25 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 30 32 35

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recommendation

Within the inspection, the school requested to increase the number of pupils to 35, rather than 32, as initially requested. The inspector agreed that the school would be likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if pupil numbers were increased to 35.

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 30 35

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 30 35

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School's current position School's proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 30 35

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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 35

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 40 47

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School's current position School's proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 19 20

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Information about this school

 The Llewellyn School and Nursery caters for pupils who have profound and multiple learning difficulties, including multisensory, communication and physical development needs. Many pupils also have associated complex medical needs.

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Information about this school

 The school is currently registered for up to 20 pupils aged from two to 25. The school has exceeded the maximum number of pupils on roll that they are registered to admit. There were 30 pupils on roll at the time the material change inspection took place.

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection was carried out in June 2022. The school was found to be meeting the Independent School Standards (the standards) and was graded ‘Good’ in all areas. A material change inspection was carried out in July 2022. This inspection found that some standards would unlikely be met if the material change was agreed in full.

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Information about this school

 The school uses no alternative provision, although pupils access specialist teaching at other providers with the support of school staff.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE after the proprietor applied for a material change to increase the maximum number of pupils from 20 to 32. Within the inspection, the proprietor requested a further change to increase the maximum number of pupils to 35. The school has partially implemented the material change as there are currently 30 pupils on the school’s roll.  The purpose of the inspection was to check whether the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the requested material change is approved.  A material change was previously carried out in July 2022. The proprietor had applied to increase numbers from 14 to 24. The inspection found that at this time, there was not enough physical space to increase numbers beyond 20.  The inspector met with the proprietor and the chair of governors to discuss the proposed material change. The inspector met with the school’s wider leadership team.

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Information about this inspection

The inspector toured the school site, including areas which have been developed or built since the last inspection. The inspector visited lessons and talked to some pupils informally, including at lunchtime.  The inspector reviewed the school’s safeguarding policy and checked that it was available to parents. The inspector met with the designated safeguarding leader to discuss the school’s safeguarding arrangements. The inspector reviewed safeguarding records and checked the single central record. Safer recruitment training and processes were discussed.  The inspector further considered all independent school standards requested by the DfE in its inspection commissioning form for this material change inspection.

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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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Inspection team

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