Bradshaw Farm Independent School

Bradshaw Farm Independent School Longnor, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 0QY

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first. The school has ensured that pupils’ welfare and safety are each a high priority.  The school has made sure that the arrangements for safeguarding and promoting pupils’ welfare are effective. These arrangements have regard to the most recent guidance issued by the Secretary of State in relation to safeguarding children in education and working together to safeguard children.  The school ensures that staff are well trained and understand their safeguarding responsibilities. The school is aware of the particular risks that their pupils may face. Staff understand the need to be vigilant and know how to respond when they are concerned about pupils’ welfare.  Staff know pupils well. They take time to understand pupils’ additional needs and

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Main inspection findings

personal circumstances that can make them more vulnerable. Staff are quick to pick up on any small changes to pupils’ behaviour that might indicate a concern.  Leaders work closely and effectively with other agencies and professionals to make sure that pupils get additional support when needed. The school has detailed child protection records.  The school has learned lessons from safeguarding incidents. The risk of a ‘closed culture’ around the employment of staff has been eliminated through a much wider recruitment process for support staff. Leaders are mindful of how staff’s personal lives can impact on their work. They monitor this more thoroughly and provide appropriate support.  Pupils say that they feel safe at the school. They say that they can talk to any staff if they have any worries or concerns. Pupils know staff will listen to them and act on what they hear to keep pupils safe. Pupils also know how to report any concerns they

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Main inspection findings

may have about staff, including leaders. They know they can raise a complaint with the school’s group leadership or take the issue to external bodies.  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on its website. It reflects the latest national guidance. Paragraph 15  The school has ensured that admission and attendance registers are maintained in accordance with the relevant regulations. The pupils on roll have their details recorded correctly in these registers.  The school meets the requirements of these independent school standards (the standards).

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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)  The school has ensured the suitability of persons appointed as members of staff by making the appropriate checks required before new staff begin working at the school. These checks also include the person’s medical fitness to ensure that they are suitable for the position to which they are appointed. Paragraphs 21(1) to 21(3)(b)  The proprietor maintains written records of the information gathered to ensure the suitability of staff. The record also contains details of the checks that the proprietor has made on the ‘central staff team’ who provide support and additional leadership to the school.  The school meets the requirements of these standards.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34 to 34(c)  Leaders, including the proprietor, have good knowledge and understanding of those standards checked on this inspection. They demonstrate appropriate skills to ensure that these standards are securely and consistently met.  Leaders have maintained a positive and open culture of safeguarding. They ensure that pupils are safe. They have effective systems in place to review continually the school’s safeguarding policies and procedures. Leaders actively promote pupils’ well- being.  The school meets the requirements of this standard.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The accessibility plan is available on request.

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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. Not all of the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.

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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 Other independent special school

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School details

Email address dwood@caretodayparallelparents.net

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 5 and 6 July 2022

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Information about this school

 Bradshaw Farm Independent School provides education for up to six pupils aged between 11 and 16 years. There are currently three pupils on roll.  The school operates from a base at Bradshaw Farm, Longnor, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0QY  Pupils are placed at the school by a number of different local authorities.  Pupils who attend the school have social, emotional or mental health needs. Most pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school is registered to admit boys and girls. At the time of the inspection, pupils on the school’s roll were all boys.  The school is part of The Partnership of Care Today, of which the school’s proprietor is a director. There are seven other schools operated by the organisation.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned this emergency inspection due to concerns related to safeguarding.  The DfE commissioned the inspector to check the school’s approach to safeguarding, the admission register, the checks made as to the suitability of persons appointed as members of staff and the quality of leadership and management.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspector met with the headteacher. He spoke with the chair of the governing body who acted as a representative of the proprietor.  The inspector considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents.  The inspector considered a range of documents, including policies related to safer recruitment, online safety and the staff code of conduct, as well as the admissions register.

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Inspection team

Dave Gilkerson, 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

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 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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