Meath School

Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 1 Meath School Brox Road, Ottershaw, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 0LF Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

This school is a non-maintained special primary school. It provides an integrated approach, including education, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and residential care.

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Information about this residential special school

It currently provides 75 places to children aged four to 11 years, whose primary needs arise from severe and complex speech, language and communication difficulties. The school offers residential services and an extended school-day programme. Up to 15 children can stay overnight for ‘sleepovers’ at any one time. Children stay between one and four nights a week, as agreed with their parents.

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Information about this residential special school

The school is owned and managed by the children’s communication charity Speech and Language UK. The residential accommodation is on the first floor of the main school building.

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Information about this residential special school

The inspector 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential special school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 21 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 2

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outstanding

Children are making incredible progress. Because of the support they get from staff, they are much more independent than they were, and they take pride in their own achievements. For one child, they are now able to recognise positive relationships that they have with other children, can engage in learning and are much better at managing their own feelings.

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outstanding

Children’s views are important to everyone. They are supported to develop their communication skills by dedicated and highly skilled staff. As a result, children are confident in making their feelings, wishes and aspirations known, and staff in turn take action to respond to these views. An independent person also visits the school regularly and ensures that children’s views are understood and presented to leaders.

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outstanding

For children with limited verbal communication, they are supported by staff to be ef- fective communicators, and their voice is easily understood and heard. This includes ensuring that children can contribute to decisions being made or participating in fo- cus groups. One child was excited to explain how they had worked hard as a part of a group to help the school achieve a gold award as a ‘rights respecting school’.

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outstanding

Children receive high quality care from staff who are committed to ensuring that they have positive experiences of staying here. The relationships between children and staff are warm, relaxed and engaging and this helps children to settle well into the residential routines.

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outstanding

Staff understand children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities well. Clear plans and assessments guide staff to deliver individualised care that ensures each child’s needs are met, whilst continuing to encourage them to become more independent. For one child, they are now able to dress more independently and are less reliant on staff.

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outstanding

Children’s individual health needs, which are often complex, are well understood and supported. The highly specialist team of therapists help to develop programmes that help children and guide staff to deliver high quality care that meets these needs. These interventions are overseen in practice to ensure that staff are competent and, feel confident to provide the support that children need to stay healthy and safe.

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outstanding

Staff work closely with families. Parents speak glowingly of the impact that residential life has had on their children. One parent explained how their child had completely changed in all aspects of their life, and how the incredible progress their child had made has also had such a significant impact on their family life too. Parents also spoke of a sense of belonging and community shared between families, children and staff. Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 3 Children enjoy coming to stay here. They refer to their time here as having a sleepover with friends, which is an appropriate reflection of the fun that children have. They access a good variety of activities that help to further develop social skills and help to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as regular sports and imaginative play. As a result, children are helped to make and maintain meaningful, positive friendships with each other.

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outstanding

When children move to a new setting, this is done in a careful and thoughtful way and is indeed a strength for leaders. Planning starts far in advance of any transition stage, with leaders connecting with families to understand priorities for them and their children, to ensure that well informed decisions are made. Children are brought into the decision-making process when this is appropriate for them and includes visits to new settings and visits from children who have previously left. As a result of these extensive efforts, children experience positive endings to their time here.

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outstanding

Children identify adults that they trust and know how to seek help when they are worried. Because of the trusting relationships that have been established, children feel safe. This sense of safety has contributed to there being no incidents of children going missing.

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outstanding

The school has a dedicated and experienced safeguarding and pastoral lead, who is highly focussed on ensuring that children are kept safe, and that staff and families have the knowledge and skills to help achieve this. They act as a source of advice and guidance and help to coordinate the support that families need.

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outstanding

Staff have a great understanding of their safeguarding duties and have confidence in the arrangements in place. They are quick to identify concerns and share these ap- propriately and take swift action to address any concerns.

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outstanding

When children experience difficult emotions, highly skilled staff helps them to find ways to express themselves safely. Staff are highly attuned to children’s behaviours and can respond accordingly to prevent significant incidents. As a result, the frequency of incidents is low and there have been no incidents that have resulted in the use of physical restraint.

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outstanding

There are no concerns about bullying. Instead, children are helped to develop posi- tive relationships, discuss their feelings and to resolve conflicts in more positive, pro- ductive ways, such as naming their feelings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are highly aspirational and endeavour to ensure that children have excellent experiences in coming to stay here. They continue to focus on improving experiences Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 4 for children and creating an environment where children can have high aspirations for themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The culture of high aspiration permeates throughout the team. Staff feel proud of the job they do and the impact they have on children’s lives. They feel supported in their roles and valued by leaders and colleagues. Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals, which help them to reflect on their practice and to focus on their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have a great understanding of the progress that children are making and take great pride in this. They ensure that these achievements are appropriately acknowledged and celebrated with children and their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are cared for by an experienced staff team who are well known to them. Despite having a small number of staff vacancies, children continue to benefit from being cared for by a consistent staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Governance continues to be effective in the school. There is good oversight of the residential provision and a shared understanding of how important this is to children and families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and governors also benefit from additional scrutiny offered by their inde- pendent visitor. This helps leaders focus on further ways in which experiences for children can improve. Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 5

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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 - Meath School 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC013925

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Majella Delaney

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential special school

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Residential special school details

Email address: majella.delaney@meathschool.org.uk

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Inspector

Jay Shekleton, Social Care Compliance Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Meath School 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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