Activate Learning

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 1 Activate Learning Merrist Wood College, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3PE

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City of Oxford College and University Centre, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1SA Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

Activate Learning has two sites that accommodate residential students. The Merrist Wood Campus is a specialist land-based college, also accommodating residential students who are part of a local basketball academy. At the time of inspection, there were 66 residential students accommodated on this site. The Harcourt Hill residential accommodation in Oxford accommodates 72 residential students who are engaged with both education at City of Oxford College and training with Activate Learning’s rugby academy which is run in conjunction with the Rugby Football Union.

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good

How well young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The college provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 2

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Residential students enjoy staying in the accommodation. They say it is welcoming, inclusive and safe. Those who have struggled with being away from home are well supported to feel like they belong. Residential students talk fondly of the accommodation staff, saying they ‘love’ them and could approach any of them with a worry or concern.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Residential students are ambitious and aspirational for themselves, with many residential students going on to university or pursuing their chosen professions. They see it as a privilege to be at the college doing what they love. They value the opportunities it gives them, both academically and in their chosen sport or career path.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Residential students are polite, courteous and respectful to each other. While there have been concerns, they have been supported to understand each other, and that bullying is not tolerated. Residential students learn how to develop caring relationships towards each other, with some lovely, supportive friendships seen.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Systems to support the student’s well-being in residential work well. Joint working between residential and faculty staff ensures that residential students are supported, and they are aware of those who may feel isolated or lack in confidence. One child supported is now enjoying activities with a small nurturing group of friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Residential students learn about healthy lifestyles and positive relationships through the tutorial scheme. Topics such as substance misuse, gambling, consent and healthy relationships are covered, with partner agencies visiting the college site to further raise awareness of support available. Suitable systems are in place to ensure the safe storage and administration of medications. Staff have undertaken relevant training should certain health needs emerge.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The catering options for residential students at the Harcourt Hill site are limited. Residential students are consulted about food and have the opportunity to provide feedback, which does result in changes to the menu and portion sizes.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Students are unanimously positive about feeling safe across both campuses. They all have staff they would go to if they are worried or concerned about themselves or another residential student. They say that any concerns within friendship groups are mostly dealt with between themselves, but the residential staff will help them if this is needed.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

The residential staff are confident in how to respond should there be a safeguarding concern. They talk confidently about the processes to follow within the organisation. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 3 However, their knowledge of how to use whistle-blowing or escalate concerns to the local authority designated officer are not as embedded. Safeguarding concerns are dealt with swiftly and rigorously once they have been identified.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Leaders had identified significant concerns with the student culture at the Harcourt Hill site. This included examples of unsafe initiation rituals to the college by existing students to those who are new. The college correctly identified this as child-on-child abuse, and when identified, took swift action to address this, including closing the residence for a period of time. However, some residential students have said this happened in the previous year, raising concerns that this was undetected. In addition, there were delays with some incidents being identified and reported as safeguarding concerns. Staff and residential students have had additional education around this issue.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have access to relevant information about residential students to understand their support needs, such as information about allergies or medical conditions, or mental health and emotional well-being concerns. When needed, risk assessments are put in place. Specific support plans identify where residential students need support. Accommodation staff have a termly progress review with residential students to find out about their welfare and to set targets.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Information to build staff knowledge about welfare and safeguarding is captured in the student’s application stage. Staff meet with residential students and their families to ensure safety plans are in place for the start of term when concerns are identified. Safeguarding staff respond to incidents that occur and provide advice or further support for accommodation staff and residential students.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Student behaviour is well managed. Because of the close links with the faculty staff, issues are quickly addressed, with the potential consequences being impactful and sufficiently deterring repeat or continued unacceptable behaviour.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

During staff recruitment, relevant statutory checks take place, and references are obtained. However, these references are not consistently verified in line with recommended practice.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

The accommodation at Harcourt is modern with good facilities and is well maintained. Residential students can personalise their space and have sufficient storage for their belongings. Residential students have access to a common room area for evening activities, which is in the process of further development. The communal areas on both sites lack a homely feel. On the Merrist Wood campus, the communal spaces are dated in their decor and furnishings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 4 The residential areas are effectively managed locally and with sound oversight by the nominated person. The accommodation manager at Merrist Wood is experienced and understands her role well, while her counterpart at Harcourt Hill is new in role. Both say they are extremely well supported by leaders to develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have taken action to develop and strengthen management and staff skills and oversight at Harcourt Hill. They identified a lack of oversight and that arrangements were not sufficiently robust to provide a consistent experience like the Merrist Wood site. This is in the early stages of being embedded. The accommodation manager and residential staff at Harcourt Hill were all new in post this academic year. They are still getting to know the role and identifying the changes they would like to make. They receive regular support from leaders during this transition period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Residential staff enjoy their role and working at the college. They feel they received a good induction to the role, individualised to their needs. They have a good knowledge of the residential students and their individual needs. Inductions include shadowing and the key training required for the role. The competencies of the new staff are assessed during this time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Residential staff link closely with college and academy staff to ensure there is a holistic view of students’ experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The accommodation managers support staff to develop consistent approaches through regular team meetings. Staff say they are well supported and can contact the accommodation managers at any time. Handovers happen for every shift change and capture the important information that needs to be shared to ensure the welfare of residential students. It is acknowledged that the Merrist Wood campus is much more established and training and one-to-one sessions for staff are fully embedded. The nominated person and the two accommodation managers are working together to ensure there is consistency in approach to supporting staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement at both sites. The development plan for the residential areas is achievable for each site. The review against the inspection framework is realistic, identifying areas of outstanding practice but also acknowledging the areas to improve.

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What does the college need to do to improve?

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 5

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Points for improvement

 The college leaders should ensure that residential staff have had a full range of checks in line with statutory guidance, prior to working with children.  The college leaders should ensure that there is consistency in the frequency of staff individual support sessions.  The college leaders should ensure that they improve the appearance and homeliness of the communal areas accessed by residential students. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 7

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accommodation details

Social care unique reference number: SC066736

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Inspectors

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Kelly Marchmont, Regulatory Inspection Manager Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Activate Learning 8 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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