Dovetree School

Dovetree School Ferness Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 0TB

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information 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 the welfare and safety of pupils are high priorities.  The school has made sure that the arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils are effective. These arrangements have regard to the most recent guidance issued by the Secretary of State in relation to safeguarding 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. Agencies separate from the school provide training sessions and support to pupils to address these risks.  Staff understand the need to be vigilant and know how to respond when they are concerned about pupils’ welfare. Staff are very reflective about their own and others’

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Main inspection findings

practice. End-of-day briefings provide staff with the opportunity to evaluate how well incidents were handled and what might be done better in the future.  Staff know how to pass on any concerns they may have about other staff members or adults in the school.  Staff know pupils well. They take time to understand pupils’ additional needs and personal circumstances that can make pupils 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.  School leaders have strengthened their communications with those who have parental responsibility for pupils. This is to ensure that there is clarity and precision to the information the school provides about pupils’ circumstances, including their well-being

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Main inspection findings

and their behaviour in school.  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 them safe. They also know how to report any concerns they may have about staff, including leaders.  The school undertakes the necessary checks on staff and members of the body of proprietors before they take up their respective position in the school. All checks are recorded on the school’s single central record.  The school’s safeguarding policy is available on the school’s website. It reflects the latest national guidance. Paragraphs 9 to 9(c)  The school’s behaviour policy is compliant with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). It contains the school’s approach to managing pupils’ behaviour and the sanctions to be adopted in the event of any misbehaviour. The policy is also compliant

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Main inspection findings

with the Equality Act 2010 as it takes into account the additional needs of the pupils.  Staff implement the school’s behaviour policy effectively. They understand each pupil’s additional needs. Staff carefully follow the approaches outlined in pupils’ individual behaviour support plans.  There are strong relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils say that staff look after them well. Pupils are settled and engaged in lessons.  Staff undertake proactive strategies to help pupils regulate their emotions. When pupils struggle to manage their emotions and display challenging behaviour, well-trained staff help them to return to a calm state.  Staff follow carefully the detailed policies and individual plans for the use of restrictive physical intervention. The records of any restraints used are detailed. They provide opportunities for all involved to reflect and learn from the incident. Pupils’ views about

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Main inspection findings

how they are treated by staff are always sought and recorded. The school uses this information to continually improve its practice in this area and reduce the need for restraint.  The school keeps accurate and detailed records of all behavioural incidents. These are reviewed daily in staff briefings. This allows staff to proactively support pupils the following day.  Behaviour records are reviewed monthly and data is analysed to look for patterns, trends and ‘hot spots’ around the school. The school uses this analysis to adjust approaches and target extra support and intervention where it is needed. Paragraph 10  The school has drawn up and effectively implemented its anti-bullying strategy.  There are anti-bullying ambassadors in the school. They take an active role in ensuring that any bullying is quickly picked up on and dealt with.  The anti-bullying curriculum and the local community police officer contribute to pupils’

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Main inspection findings

understanding of anti-social behaviour and the danger of being bullied into criminal activity.  The school’s behaviour records indicate that bullying is rare. Pupils state that bullying does not happen much. Paragraphs 16 to 16(b)  The school safeguards and promotes the welfare of pupils through the effective implementation of its risk assessment policy.  Leaders have ensured that staff have the necessary information to be able to support pupils, including in managing and reducing possible risky behaviours.  The school environment and activities undertaken on the school site have been carefully assessed for risk. Staff follow these assessments to keep pupils safe, for example when they are cooking. All off-site visits are carefully assessed for risk and appropriate control measures are implemented.  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(1) to 34(1)(c)  Leaders, including the proprietor, have a secure knowledge and understanding of the 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 continually review 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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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £98,826 to £130,752

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School details

Website www.witherslackgroup.co.uk/ourlocations/o ur-schools/dovetree-school Email address dovetree@witherslackgroup.co.uk

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 13 to 15 December 2023

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Information about this school

 Dovetree School is registered as an independent school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The proprietor is the Witherslack Group Limited, which provides residential care and education for pupils in various locations across the country.  The school is based at Ferness Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 0TB.  The school is registered to provide full-time education for up to 50 pupils aged 8 to 18 years. There are currently 50 pupils on roll. All pupils have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.  The school uses one unregistered alternative provider.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place from 13 to 15 December 2023.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned this emergency inspection due to concerns related to safeguarding.  The DfE commissioned the inspectors to check the school’s approaches to safeguarding, managing behaviour and preventing bullying, risk assessment, and leadership and management.  The inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspectors met with the headteacher, other members of the senior leadership team and the proprietor’s regional director. The lead inspector spoke with the chair of the proprietor body.  The inspection has 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 inspectors considered a range of documents, including policies related to behaviour, risk assessment, and pupils’ individual behaviour support plans and EHC plans.  The inspectors visited lessons, spoke to pupils and staff and observed behaviour at

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Information about this inspection

the start of the day, breaktime, lunchtime and at the end of the day.

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Inspection team

Dave Gilkerson, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Rakesh Patel 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

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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 looked-after children, 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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