Ash Field Academy

Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 1 Ash Field Academy Ash Field School, Broad Avenue, Leicester LE5 4PY Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

This is an academy school in Leicester with 157 pupils. The residential provision is in a dedicated area in the main school and caters for up to 18 children aged eight to 19 at any one time. Children have physical disabilities and complex health conditions, as well as associated communication, sensory and learning needs. Children usually access the residential service for one or two nights a week. Children also attend the residential service for extended days after school on some occasions.

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Information about this residential special school

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and 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 residential special school provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are enthusiastic about their stays in the residential provision and enjoy them very much. They often describe it as ‘one big sleepover’. They receive support from staff to enhance their social skills, such as sharing with others and cooperation, building friendships and nurturing positive relationships. The children thoroughly enjoy their stays and have fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a calm and nurturing approach with the children. They allow children time to respond to queries and will adapt their approach, if needed, when working with different children. This individualised approach supports children and staff to develop good relationships and means that staff have an in-depth understanding of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear targets for children’s attainment, both at school and in the residential provision. Staff and parents work closely to support the children to achieve their goals. Parents provided many examples of how their children have made good progress due to the support provided by staff. For example, one child has become increasingly independent. They have transferred their newly developed skills into the family home, undertaking tasks themselves without support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children attend education on the same site as the residential provision. This enables staff in education and care to work very closely together. They provide the children with consistently high-quality care and support which is invaluable for the children and provides very good learning opportunities. One parent said, ‘It is the best decision that I have ever made my child coming to the school and staying in the residential provision. They have prepared my child with the skills to have a bright future.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, the staff demonstrate a good understanding of each child’s needs. As part of the care planning process, they request important information from parents, families and carers about the care needs of each child. However, staff do not always update this information with their own assessment of the child, Consequently, recording systems are not always sufficiently complete or clear. In addition, some children who access the provision have complex health needs. The recording of this information is not sufficiently consistent across all documents. While neither of these issues has directly impacted on children, unchecked they have the potential to do so. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 3

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a strong culture of safeguarding in the staff team in the residential provision. The staff can access the training and support they need to be consistent in their approach and knowledge regarding safeguarding the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children’s needs necessitate close supervision from staff. As a result of this close supervision and monitoring, the children do not go missing.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When the children want to spend time online, staff monitor the content that they are searching and viewing. However, staff always encourage the children to take part in activities and to focus on having fun with friends and socialising.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff have not used physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour for several years. Staff are skilled in observing the children’s behaviour and intervene early in situations to prevent them escalating. In addition, staff reinforce to children that they can speak to staff at any time. This helps them feel safe, and for staff to have a greater understanding of children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

On one occasion, following a significant incident, strategies were not implemented to mitigate risks. During the inspection leaders took action to address potential hazards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The head of the residential provision is a strong and committed leader who leads the staff team to achieve good outcomes for children. She works closely with school leaders and together they have a definite vision for the children to excel in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and they speak very positively about the support they receive and feel that staff morale is good. Staff have a very positive approach to caring for children. One member of staff said how positive it was to ‘see the children shine and become the stars that they are’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders work in close collaboration with external partner agencies. They value their input, support and feedback. When there is a specific issue where the leadership team requires some guidance, they are quick to use the skills and knowledge of other agencies to ensure that their care of children is the best that it can be.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is highly experienced and knowledgeable. A large proportion of staff are either qualified or enrolled on a suitable qualification to enhance their knowledge. Training and development opportunities are detailed and thorough. Bespoke training is provided to staff when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

While management oversight is generally good, school leaders have not regularly checked children’s files to ensure that the necessary information is captured and up Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 4 to date. This has contributed to some of the shortfalls in documentation identified at this inspection. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 5

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special schools

The school does not meet the following national minimum standards for residential special schools:

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 Leaders should ensure that there is a written plan in place for each child resident in the school setting out how their day-to-day needs will be met, known as the placement plan. The plan is thorough and specific to the child and is agreed, as far as is practicable, with the child, the child’s parents/carers and any placing authority for the child. Children have an opportunity to contribute to their plans. The placement plan identifies the needs of that child that the school should meet, assesses any risk and specifies how the school will care for the child and promote their welfare on a day-to-day basis. Where significant changes are made to the placement plan there is appropriate consultation. (Residential special schools: national minimum standards 7.1)  Leaders should ensure that children have a clear plan covering their individual health needs. The details within the plan need to be reviewed on a regular basis

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special schools

and updated if necessary. If health information is recorded on various forms, then leaders need to check that the same information is on all forms. (Residential special schools: national minimum standards 12.12)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and 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 residential special school - Ash Field Academy 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC006451

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Tracey Lawrence

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential special school

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Residential special school details

Email address: office@ashfield.leicester.sch.uk

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 7 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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