High Close School

Inspection report for residential special school - High Close School 1 High Close School Barnardo’s, High Close School, Wiltshire Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1TT Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

High Close School is a non-maintained special school operated by a national charity. It provides for both day and residential pupils, aged from seven to 18 years. Up to 18 weekly residential children are accommodated in two residential units on the school site. The school accommodates children who have education, health and care plans arising from social, emotional, and mental health difficulties and speech, language and communication needs.

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Information about this residential special school

At the time of this inspection, six children were accessing the residential provision.

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Information about this residential special school

Residential pupils have requested that their individual houses are referred to as units, as detailed throughout this report.

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Information about this residential special school

We only inspected the residential setting at this inspection.

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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: 12 September 2023

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outstanding

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

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outstanding

Children flourish at this residential special school. The care that they receive is individualised and nurturing, which allows them to have a happy and relaxed experience. Children make excellent progress because of the skilled and dedicated staff who help them to try new things, learn and thrive. Children display warmth, affection, and friendliness towards staff and to one another. Children say that they like all the staff, the activities, and how they have made friends. One child said, ‘There is not one of the staff I would not go to for help, and I don’t know what I would have done without this school’.

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outstanding

Children contribute to their individual plans. They respond well to the supportive environment which enables their personal development. Children benefit from the stable, committed, and highly experienced staff team. The multidisciplinary approach to care planning focuses on promoting the best outcomes for children.

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outstanding

There is a culture of continuous improvement, high expectation and excellence. Children receive care from a well-supported staff team. The children learn beneficial life and social skills, which significantly increase their self-esteem and confidence. The residential experience provides an excellent preparation for independent life or transition to further education. Children are able to go independently into the local town to buy treats and items to cook for their evening meal.

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outstanding

The care, education and therapy staff work exceptionally well as a team to ensure that children’s learning and support are ongoing. This provides a truly joined-up approach. Children develop important skills through an embedded life skills programme. This prepares them well for their futures and they are increasing in confidence and ability because of their stays in the units.

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outstanding

Children’s views are actively sought, and children are fully encouraged and enabled to have their say in a variety of ways, such as talking to staff, the independent visitor, governors and via the school council. Staff are alert to any subtle changes in the group dynamics and are very quick to respond, should tensions between children arise.

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outstanding

Children have plentiful opportunities to join in with a range of activities in the units and the local community. This allows the children to have fun with their friends while learning social and independent living skills. The residential experience allows children to undertake a range of responsibilities which aid their own development while also assisting others; they described opportunities such as unit prefects, house meetings, school council and direct contact with staff. Inspection report for residential special school - High Close School 3 Staff are committed to valuing children and treating them as unique individuals; this is demonstrated by the various ways in which all children are introduced to and then supported throughout their time at the school.

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outstanding

The school actively seeks to encourage children to accept and value themselves and each other; positive behavioural change occurs because the children themselves want to change. Staff support them through celebration and praise of positive behaviour. Children are proud of their achievements while living at the units.

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outstanding

Children’s safety is fully promoted, and there are rigorous and well-developed systems to protect children from harm. An extremely tenacious head of care, well supported by the school’s senior leadership team, ensures that safeguarding practice is exceptionally strong.

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outstanding

Leaders and managers demonstrate effective professional curiosity when investigating concerns. Safeguarding records are clear and comprehensive. Chronologies demonstrate a clear timeline and the decision-making process. External consultations and peer reviews further guard against insular practice.

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outstanding

Children have warm relationships with staff. They seek them out when they need support, and staff are responsive to this. Staff are committed to the children and understand their needs. Key work sessions support children with a range of safeguarding resources to help them to be safe, covering topics such as online safety, relationships, safe people, bullying, and consequences of negative behaviour. Staff are proud of children’s successes and know them extremely well.

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outstanding

The therapy team ensures that staff are well equipped to meet the specific needs of the residential children and an ‘open surgery’ means that staff can discuss any child to ensure that strategies are effective. Staff share approaches with children and apply effective techniques consistently, aiding children’s understanding of their behaviour. This helps children to learn vital life skills in terms of their social development and how to manage conflict in a healthy way.

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outstanding

Meetings ensure that safeguarding is a top priority for all staff. Holistic working across the staff teams results in individualised plans to keep children safe. Any concerns or worries are highlighted, and plans are adapted to meet the ever- changing needs of the children. Staff anticipate children’s needs quickly. This has led to a reduction in incidents of children becoming upset and frustrated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report for residential special school - High Close School 4 The highly motivated team of staff is managed by a longstanding and committed head of care. All staff have extensive skills, knowledge and training. Consequently, children receive care that is of the highest standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have thorough oversight of all aspects of the home. Digital-based monitoring encapsulates the excellent progress that children make in managing their emotions and behaviours. Systems for monitoring safeguarding are exceptionally thorough and comprehensive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has excellent relationships with key professionals. There is a sense of being one team, and senior leaders role model an inclusive approach. Thorough analysis of children’s progress means that leaders can evidence improvement and act when concerns arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they feel well supported and praise the quality of supervision and continuous professional development. There have been some significant changes within the residential provision since the last inspection due to a reduction in the number of children and staff. However, the dedication and commitment of all staff have meant that changes have been seamless for children. Staff say that they feel heard and that their expertise and experience are important to the school’s leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Governors are well placed to oversee the work of the residential provision. They have an extensive knowledge of the work being done, through their own observations and informative reports from an independent visitor. Leaders and managers have excellent, open relationships with governors, with all parties having mutual respect for each other’s roles. High levels of scrutiny ensure a drive for continuous improvement. Leaders are always looking for better ways to meet their objectives. Consequently, children receive exceptional care. Inspection report for residential special school - High Close 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 - High Close School 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC011327

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Wendy Gosling

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential Special School

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Residential special school details

Email address: enquiries@highclose.org.uk

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Inspector

Hannah Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - High Close School 7 and inspects 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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