Invested Education

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Invested Education Hall Close, Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar, Cleveland TS11 6AB

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1), 2(1)(a)  The previous inspection found that some aspects of the curriculum were not as well developed as others. The school was unclear how pupils’ knowledge would broaden and deepen over time.  The school has worked to improve the curriculum in a range of subjects. The school delivers a tailored curriculum that meets the needs of pupils, many of whom have previously struggled in education. Pupils access a broad curriculum.  The school has designed comprehensive learning sequences which support teachers to deliver the curriculum effectively.  The previous inspection found that pupils who are at the earliest stages of reading did not get the support they need to catch up. The evaluation of the school’s action plan also notes that it is unclear how pupils will learn phonics to help them to become fluent, competent readers.  The school has introduced a systematic programme for the teaching of phonics. Some

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Main inspection findings

staff are trained in how to teach this programme. Teachers support early reading effectively through daily focus sessions and targeted phonics instruction. Paragraphs 2A(1), 2A(1)(b), 2A(1)(d), 2A(2)  At the previous inspection, the school had not fully considered a pupil’s age when agreeing a parent or carer’s request to withdraw the pupils from relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education.  The school has contacted all parents and carers to discuss the RSE and health education curriculum and their right to withdraw pupils from the sex education aspect of this. The school has acted in line with statutory guidance.  The RSE and health education policy makes it clear that parents may withdraw their child from sex education, but not health and relationships education. Paragraphs 3, 3(h)  The last inspection found that pupils’ behaviour was not consistently well supported across the school. Pupils were aware that adults’ expectations for behaviour differed.

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Main inspection findings

Inappropriate behaviour was not challenged promptly enough in some instances.  Behaviour records are detailed and show evidence of staff taking timely and appropriate action when incidents occur. Instances of pupils absconding have significantly reduced. This demonstrates that the school now meets pupils’ needs more consistently and effectively.  Pupils rightly say that behaviour has improved since the previous inspection. Their behaviour during this inspection was calm and settled. Behaviour records show that behaviour incidents have reduced over time. Adults and pupils have positive relationships.  At the last inspection, inspectors found that the school did not analyse how well the positive behaviour points systems was working. This reduced the school’s ability to improve pupils’ behaviour.  The school is now clear about the effectiveness of the points system for behaviour. Pupils understand how the system works. Where the system is not effective for a pupil, the

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Main inspection findings

school takes a bespoke approach to rewarding behaviour. For example, pupils may receive rewards daily rather than weekly.  The previously unmet independent school standards (the standards) in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 9, 9(b)  At the time of the previous inspection, the behaviour policy was not being implemented consistently or effectively. This led to pupils receiving mixed messages about behaviour.  The school has reviewed its behaviour policy. It has considered pupils’ starting points for behaviour and their previous experiences. Staff receive training in positive behaviour management. This helps them implement the policy consistently. Paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)  The previous inspection found that the school did not fully consider the risks that pupils were potentially susceptible to.  The school has devised a new risk assessment policy. This clearly sets out how the school identifies, manages and reduces risk. Additionally, the school uses a risk assessment programme to plan educational visits. Where the provider of an educational visit has its own risk assessment, the school considers these.

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Main inspection findings

 Pupils’ individual risk assessments align with the risk assessment policy. They meet the needs of pupils and take account of their behaviour. The school trains staff on how to implement the control measures set out in pupils’ risk assessments.  The school has taken action to reduce risk through, for example, installing video surveillance and additional electronic key fobs on doors.  The previously unmet standards in this part are now met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1), 23(1)(a), 24(1), 24(1)(a), 24(1)(b), 24(2)  At the previous inspection, pupils did not have access to toilets that were solely for their use, nor did they have access to a medical room.  The school building has been reconfigured to ensure pupils have access to toilets that are solely for their use.  The proprietor has created a medical room which is adequate for the short-term examination and treatment of pupils. This room is not used for any other purposes. It is

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Main inspection findings

located near to a toilet.  The previously unmet standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1), 32(1)(i)  At the previous inspection, the school was unable to provide information regarding pupils’ education, health and care plans (EHC plan) as may reasonably be required for the purpose of the annual review.  The school has ensured that costed provision maps are now in place for all pupils with an EHC plan. Staff can talk confidently about each pupil and the information they would provide for the annual review.  The previously unmet standards in this part are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b)  The school’s previous inspections have shown that the standards have not been met consistently over time. At the last inspection, the school did not have the required leadership capacity to bring about the improvements needed to ensure that the standards were met.  The action plan evaluation undertaken following the last inspection identified that some of the previously unmet standards were likely to be met but others were not.  The proprietor has brought about significant improvements since the last inspection. It has introduced systems to enable it to routinely check that the standards are met. The proprietor seeks appropriate external advice and support to ensure that the improvements made are rapid and sustainable.  The new headteacher has brought stability to the school. He has a secure understanding

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Main inspection findings

of the context of the school and the needs of pupils.  The school has made numerous improvements to the curriculum so pupils receive a better quality of education. The premises have been reconfigured and site safety has increased. Robust recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that the right staff are recruited to the school. Staff training is comprehensive.  The previously unmet standards in this part are now met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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- – 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 subparagraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively; and  2A(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor- – 2A(1)(b) ensures that every registered pupil who is provided with secondary education at the school is provided with relationships and sex education, except in so far as the pupil is excused as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2), – 2A(1)(d) in making arrangements for the purposes of paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), has regard to any guidance under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 that applies in relation to the provision of education by maintained schools.  2A(2) Arrangements made by the proprietor for the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(b) must ensure that where a pupil’s parent requests that the pupil is wholly or partly excused

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

from sex education provided as part of relationships and sex education, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the head teacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused.  3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(h) utilises effective strategies for managing behaviour and encouraging pupils to act responsibly.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 9 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor promotes good behaviour amongst pupils by ensuring that- – 9(b) the policy is implemented effectively; and  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 23(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), the standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 23(1)(a) suitable toilet and washing facilities are provided for the sole use of pupils;  24(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that suitable accommodation is provided in order to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils, including- – 24(1)(a) accommodation for the medical examination and treatment of pupils; – 24(1)(b) accommodation for the short term care of sick and injured pupils, which includes a washing facility and is near to a toilet facility; and  24(2) The accommodation provided under sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) may be used for other purposes (apart from teaching) provided it is always readily available to be used for the purposes set out in sub-paragraphs (1)(a) and (b).

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 32(1)(i) where a pupil with an EHC plan wholly or partly funded by a local authority or other body through public funds is registered at the school, such information as may reasonably be required for the purpose of the annual review of the EHC plan is provided to the responsible local authority.

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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- – 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 Other independent special school

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School details

Email address information@invested-education.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 17 May 2024

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Information about this school

 The school’s last standard inspection took place in May 2024.  The school uses three unregistered alternative provisions.  The school occupies a building on Hall Close, Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar, Cleveland, TS11 6AB.  The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. Places are commissioned by local authorities. All pupils have an EHC plan.  A new headteacher joined the school in September 2024. He is also a member of the proprietor board.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of 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.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since its last standard inspection in May 2024 when it was judged not to comply with the standards.  The progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. This was a statutory requirement. Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan in November 2024. Following this, the DfE found the action plan to not be entirely satisfactory. At the time of this inspection, the school had not had sufficient time to review and amend the action plan.  To check compliance with the standards, inspectors met with the headteacher (who is

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Information about this inspection

also a member of the proprietor board), the designated safeguarding lead and the special educational needs coordinator. An inspector also spoke to the chair of the proprietor board, the school improvement partner and the local authority.  Inspectors reviewed curriculum documents, visited some lessons and spoke to some pupils about their experiences at the school.  Inspectors discussed behaviour with leaders and reviewed records of behaviour incidents.  A tour of the school site was undertaken to check that the previously unmet standards in part 5 are now met.  Inspectors considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements during the inspection. An inspector reviewed the school’s single central record to ensure the school conducts appropriate pre-employment checks. Inspectors checked that the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents. These requirements of the standards are met.

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Inspection team

Philippa Kermotschuk, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Richard Jones 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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