The Yellow House School

School material change inspection report

p.1

The Yellow House School 1 Alderford Street, Sible Hedingham, Halstead, Essex CO9 3HX

p.1

Overall outcome The school meets the independent school

standards relevant to the material change.

p.1

Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b) and 32(1)(c)  The school provides staff with regular safeguarding training. Staff understand how to identify the signs which indicate that a pupil may be at risk of harm. They record concerns appropriately using the school’s agreed procedures.  The school has managed the change of designated safeguarding lead well. Leaders of safeguarding are knowledgeable. They take prompt action when staff raise concerns. Where needed, the school works with other agencies to support pupils and families.  The curriculum teaches pupils important content on how to keep themselves safe.  There is a safeguarding policy in place that adheres to current government guidance as issued by the Secretary of State. It is published on the school’s website. Paragraph 11  The school has appropriate health and safety policies in place. Staff apply these

p.1

Main inspection findings

policies consistently well.  There are frequent checks on the premises. For example, the school regularly completes checks on the temperature of the water. Paragraph 12  The school uses external expertise to support them to put in place suitable fire risk assessments for both premises. Where needed, the school takes appropriate action to remedy any matters arising from these risk assessments.  The school completes routine checks on the fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers.  Regular fire drills are completed. Fire exits are clearly demarcated. There are clear systems in place for the safe evacuation of both sites. Paragraph 14  Staff teach pupils and students in small class sizes. The proprietor intends to maintain similar staff-to-pupil ratios should the material change be approved. There are appropriate numbers of staff in each class to cater for the needs of pupils.  Staff receive regular training. This ensures that staff understand the needs of pupils.

p.1

Main inspection findings

This helps staff to provide effective support.  The proprietor intends to manage the increase in numbers through the established timetables pupils follow. While the proprietor has applied for an increase in the number of pupils on roll to 20, it is not their intention to have 20 full-time pupils on site at the same time. Paragraphs 16, 16(a), 16(b)  There are appropriate risk assessments in place. For example, individual pupil risk assessments identify the potential risks pupils may face and what to do to reduce these risks. Staff implement these risk assessments successfully.  These independent school standards (the standards) in this part were met at the previous inspection and remain met.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 21(1) to (21)(5)(a)(ii) and 21(5)(c)  The school has clear procedures in place for the recruitment of staff.  School leaders have the knowledge and experience required to complete the necessary pre-employment checks on new staff.  The proprietor ensures that the school accurately records in the single central record information on the checks it has completed.  The school uses supply staff only on very rare occasions. Leaders ensure that they complete the appropriate checks when they do use them.  These standards were met at the previous inspection and remain met.

p.2

Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to (24)(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27, 27(a), 27(b), 28(1) to 28(2)(b) and 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  Both school sites are well maintained, and suitable should the material change be approved.  There are ample class spaces on each site to accommodate up to ten pupils in each building.  There is suitable access throughout both buildings to toilets and washing facilities. The water temperature across both buildings is appropriate.  Pupils have access to clearly labelled drinking water via the central kitchen spaces. On the Clare site, the kitchen has recently been renovated, and the proprietor has plans to renovate the kitchen at Sible Hedingham.  There is a readily available medical room for pupils to use should they require it in each building. Both rooms contain washing facilities and are located near to the toilets.  Classrooms are well lit and have appropriate acoustics. Classrooms are well resourced

p.2

Main inspection findings

to enable staff to teach the planned curriculum. For example, pupils have access to reading books and specialist art equipment.  There is sufficient outside space for pupils’ free time. Each building has a small courtyard which pupils can use should they wish to. Leaders have plans to enhance the use of this outside space further.  The school uses the local community for the teaching of physical education. This includes local outside spaces and a leisure centre.  Both buildings have communal spaces inside for pupils to socialise in.  These standards were met at the previous inspection and remain met.

p.3

Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor keeps a close eye on the quality of education on offer. This enables her to understand where the school is having a positive impact on pupils and where to target future school improvement priorities.  The proprietor has supported leaders to manage recent changes to staffing. She has ensured new staff have the requisite knowledge and expertise to meet the needs of pupils on roll.  The proprietor plans to continue to offer a range of both full- and part-time timetables to pupils depending on their specific needs. It is not the intention of the proprietor to have twenty full-time pupils on site at once.  This standard was met at the previous inspection and remains met.

p.3

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 are relevant to the material change.

p.4

School details

This inspection was carried out under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

p.5

School details

Type of school Other independent special school

p.5

School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £43,314.65 to £75,078.73

p.5

School details

Email address office@theyellowhouseschool.org.uk

p.5

School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 4 to 6 July 2023

p.5

recommendation

Age range of pupils 13 to 17 13 to 17 13 to 17

p.5

recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 16 20 20

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 4 Case by case basis Number of part-time pupils 12 Case by case basis

p.5

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 16 20

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 16 20

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils paid for by a local authority with an education, health and care plan 16 20

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 12 13

p.6

School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable Not applicable

p.6

Information about this school

 The school is an independent special school with a single proprietor.  The school operates from two sites. The main site is at 1 Alderford Street, Sible Hedingham, Essex CO9 3HX. The second site is at 1 Nethergate Street, Clare, Suffolk CO10 8NP.  The school is registered to admit up to 15 pupils aged 13 to 17. Currently, there are 16 pupils on the school roll. The school offers a range of full- and part-time placements to pupils depending on pupils’ individual needs. Previously, the school had agreed with the DfE that it could have more than 15 pupils on roll as long as this did not exceed 15 full-time equivalent pupils. The proprietor has requested that the DfE increase its capacity to 20 pupils to ensure that the number of pupils on roll matches with its registered capacity.  A few pupils stay on at the end of key stage 4 to complete their study in Year 12.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan. All pupils arrive at the school

p.6

Information about this school

having experienced periods away from education.  Pupils are referred to the school by their local authority.  The school does not currently use any alternative provision.  There have been some changes to staffing recently. The proprietor has established a new senior leadership team. The special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinator took up post in September 2024. The designated safeguarding lead also took on this responsibility in September 2024.  The school’s previous standard inspection was in July 2023, when it was judged to be good overall. At this inspection, the school also met all of the independent school standards.

p.6

Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the DfE in response to a request from the proprietor for a material change.  The inspector met with the proprietor, the headteacher, other leaders and staff.  The inspector checked the school’s single central record of background checks of adults working at the school.  A range of documents relating to the safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and school development were scrutinised.  The inspector toured both school sites with leaders and spoke with some pupils during their lessons.

p.8

Inspection team

Michael Williams, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector guidance ‘Raising concerns and making a complaint about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website:. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

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.

p.9

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 .

p.9

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.

p.9

Inspection team

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspection team

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspection team

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9