This Is My Education - TIME

School progress monitoring inspection report

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This Is My Education - TIME Logic House, Central Street, St Helens, Merseyside WA10 1UD

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(g), 2(2)(h)  At the school’s last standard inspection in February 2023, inspectors found that leaders had not provided a broad or balanced curriculum. The curriculum did not meet the needs, abilities or aspirations of the pupils, including those with an education, health and care (EHC) plan. Pupils were not able to study the qualifications that they were capable of accessing.  At the previous progress monitoring inspection, leaders had thought about the design of the curriculum in a wider range of subjects. However, the plans and schemes of work for human and social education remained under-developed. There continued to be a lack of clarity about the knowledge that pupils should learn in these subjects, including for students in the sixth form. There was no curriculum or scheme of work in place for physical education.

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Main inspection findings

 Since the previous monitoring inspection, leaders have developed the curriculum subjects that were previously under-developed. They have put plans and schemes of work in place for all subjects in the curriculum and for all year groups. These plans and schemes of work set out what pupils should learn and when. They show consideration for the needs of pupils who attend the school.  The independent school standards (‘the standards’) in this part are now met. Paragraph 3(a)-3(g)  At the school’s last standard inspection, inspectors found that staff lacked subject- specific knowledge and a sufficient understanding of pedagogical approaches. Additionally, assessment was not used effectively.  At the previous monitoring inspection, leaders had put in place some training for staff to support their understanding of how to deliver the curriculum well. However, this was not in place for all subjects on offer. Assessment strategies did not help staff to identify gaps

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Main inspection findings

in pupils’ knowledge effectively.  Since the previous progress monitoring inspection, school leaders have put in place a package of training for staff that covers all subjects in the curriculum. The training has positively impacted pedagogy and staff have a clear understanding of how to design learning that builds on pupils’ prior knowledge. Assessment is used to check what pupils know and remember.  The standards in this part are now met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 32(1)(c)  There is a strong culture of safeguarding. There are effective systems and procedures in place to protect pupils from harm. Staff receive training that enables them to remain vigilant for signs of concern. There are established and well-understood procedures in place for staff to report any concerns about adults who work in the school. The safeguarding policy reflects the most recent statutory guidance. The school makes sure

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Main inspection findings

that information about its safeguarding arrangements is published on its website.  The standards in this part continue to be met. Paragraph 11  There is a suitable health and safety policy in place. This contains the relevant information for the school to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The proprietor uses an external specialist to audit and check emergency equipment and risk assessments. Regular fire drills take place with any action points identified.  The standard in this part continues to be met. Paragraph 14  Staff receive the training that they need to fulfil their roles well. Leaders make sure that pupils are suitably supervised at all points in the school day. This helps to keep pupils safe.  The standard in this part continues to be met. Paragraph 16, 16(a), 16(b)  There is a suitable risk assessment policy in place. Leaders identify risks appropriately and share the information in a timely manner with staff. Risk assessments are evaluated

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Main inspection findings

regularly and show regard to pupils’ specific needs.  The standards in this part continue to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(1), 18(2), 18(2)(a)-18(2)(e)  Leaders make the statutory pre-employment checks on all staff who work at the school. These checks are completed before staff commence employment and are recorded with accuracy on the single central record.  The standards in this part continue to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 25  The premises are maintained to a high standard. The proprietor conducts regular checks on all parts of the building to ensure that it is a safe learning environment for pupils. The health and safety policy is suitable and sets out the proprietor’s expectations for how the building will continue to be a safe environment.  The standard in this part continues to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  At the school’s last standard inspection, inspectors identified a number of unmet standards. They found that the proprietor and school leaders lacked the knowledge and understanding to ensure that the quality of education provided by the school was acceptable.  School leaders have worked with an external consultant to develop their understanding of the standards. They have put systems in place to check ongoing compliance with all of the standards over time. Governors have been recruited with the relevant background and expertise in their areas of responsibility to suitably challenge and support school leaders.  The standard in this part is now met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets the requirements of the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 (‘the independent school standards’) and associated requirements that were checked during this inspection. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous inspection. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan; and – 2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(g) where the school has pupils above compulsory school age, a programme of activities which is appropriate to their needs; – 2(2)(h) that all pupils have the opportunity to learn and make progress.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school-

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

– 3(a) enables pupils to acquire new knowledge and make good progress according to their ability so that they increase their understanding and develop their skills in the subjects taught; – 3(b) fosters in pupils self-motivation, the application of intellectual, physical and creative effort, interest in their work and the ability to think and learn for themselves; – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught; – 3(f) utilises effectively classroom resources of a good quality, quantity and range; – 3(g) demonstrates that a framework is in place to assess pupils’ work regularly and

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

thoroughly and use information from that assessment to plan teaching so that pupils can progress.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school-

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

– 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently; – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently.

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School details

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

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School details

Type of school Independent special school

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School details

Gender of pupils in the sixth form Mixed

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School details

Of which, number on roll in sixth form 9

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School details

Email address jillianfairclough@thisismyeducation.org.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 28 February to 2 March 2023

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Information about this school

 The school operates from premises at Logic House, 138 Central Street, St Helens WA10 1UD.  The previous standard inspection took place on 28 February 2023 to 2 March 2023. Progress monitoring inspections, commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), took place in November 2023 and May 2024.  The school uses one unregistered alternative provider. The proprietor of this school is the director of this alternative provider.  The school caters for up to 40 pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Most pupils who attend the school have an EHC plan. The majority of these pupils have social, emotional and/or mental health needs.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the DfE, which is the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection. The DfE requested that some additional standards in parts 3, 4 and 5 be considered as part of this inspection.  This inspection was carried out without notice. It was the school’s third progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection on 28 February 2023 to 2 March 2023, when it was judged to not have met the standards. The school’s first monitoring inspection took place in November 2023 and the second monitoring inspection took place in May 2024.  The DfE required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. Ofsted evaluated this action plan on 20 August 2024. The DfE rejected the action plan on 17 September 2024.

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Information about this inspection

This was the third action plan that the school was asked to prepare.  During the inspection, the inspector met with the headteacher, senior leaders and staff. The headteacher is also the proprietor.  The inspector reviewed schemes of work and pupils’ work. She also visited some lessons.  The inspector spoke with pupils about their learning and their wider experiences of school.  The inspector examined documents, including the safeguarding policy, curriculum documents and documents relating to leadership and management.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, the inspector: reviewed the single 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.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Inspection team

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Inspection team

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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