THE BRIDGE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS SCHOOL

School material change inspection report

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THE BRIDGE SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS SCHOOL 148-150 & 167 Old Kent Road, London SE1 5TY

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7, 7(a), 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16 to 16(b), 32(1), 32(1)(c)  The proprietor plans to relocate the school to new premises at Back of 2A Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 7AA and to increase the number of pupils it is registered to enrol to 70.  The school has an up-to-date safeguarding policy that includes the most recent changes to the government’s statutory guidance. Parents and carers can access the policy via the school’s website.  Staff receive formal safeguarding training every half term in addition to weekly updates in staff briefings. As a result, staff have a secure understanding of their responsibility to keep pupils safe. Staff also complete online training modules, for example for ‘Prevent’ duty training.  Staff know how to report concerns that they may have about a pupil’s welfare. They know who the designated safeguarding leads are and report their concerns in a timely

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Main inspection findings

manner. Staff know their pupils well and understand that many pupils may struggle to communicate how they are feeling. However, staff are alert to changes in pupils’ moods or behaviour and record and report these when appropriate. There are robust systems in place for staff to record their concerns and these are stored appropriately. Leaders work well with many local authorities to promote pupils’ welfare and ensure that pupils receive the support that they require.  Pupils are taught to keep themselves safe physically and online. They said that they feel safe in school and have trusted staff members they can speak to. Pupils trust staff to resolve any issues that they may have.  The new premises are complete and ready for use. Pupils have visited the new site so they can be prepared for the transition when it occurs. This has reassured pupils about the proposed move.  The school’s health and safety policy is fit for purpose. The building has been fully

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Main inspection findings

refurbished to a very high standard. The school has put in place necessary procedures to maintain a safe environment for its pupils. The school already undertakes regular health and safety checks, including for fire alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. These are recorded appropriately in a fire safety logbook. The school also has appropriate systems in place to record all planned fire drills.  The school has conducted its own fire risk assessment of the new premises. It has identified potential fire hazards and how to mitigate these. The school has considered the needs of its pupils and whether there are any pupils who require personal evacuation plans. Staff have visited the new site and have practised an evacuation of the building. The school has also commissioned an external fire safety audit that was conducted the day before the inspection. The school expects to receive the report of

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Main inspection findings

this audit within 10 working days. The school intends to act on any issues that arise in this report.  The school has a suitable risk assessment policy and written risk assessments. The policy and risk assessments are suitably detailed and fit for purpose. In addition to risk assessments for different areas of the new building, for example the gym and the playground, there are personalised risk assessments for each pupil.  The school usually maintains a high staff-to-pupil ratio of one to four. This ratio is tailored to meet the individual needs of each pupil, with flexible ratios ranging from one to one to one to eight, depending on pupils’ needs. This will be maintained when more pupils join the school. Due to the individual needs of pupils, staff supervise them at all times.  The independent school standards (the standards) in these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 17 to 18(2)(e), 18(3) to 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(7)(b)  The school understands the importance of safely recruiting new staff. The school ensures that checks for new staff are carried out in accordance with statutory guidance. In order to increase the number of pupils on the school roll, the school intends to recruit new staff. Leaders have appropriately considered how they will increase pupil numbers gradually over time and how they will recruit staff to maintain the school’s high staff-to-pupil ratio.  The school’s single central record of pre-employment checks accurately records all the required checks on leaders, staff, governors and the proprietor.  The standards in these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 22 to 29(2)  The proposed new building has been converted for educational use to a very high standard. Classrooms are of a good size and are well resourced. All classrooms benefit from natural light and are well soundproofed to external noise. There are sufficient classrooms and toilets to accommodate the proposed increase in number of pupils. The new school site is secure with ample external lighting.  Drinking-water is readily available throughout the building, and it is clearly marked. The toilet facilities have hot and cold running water, with safeguards in place to prevent scalding. There are two dedicated medical rooms with access to their own toilets and washing facilities.  There is generous outside space. This space is well maintained and suitable for pupils at breaktimes and for their physical education lessons. This is in addition to a well-

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Main inspection findings

equipped gym and a hydrotherapy room with a plunge pool. There are also two well- equipped sensory rooms, one on each floor of the building.  The standards in these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and the headteacher have a clear shared vision for the school. They are keen to relocate to the new premises in order to improve the learning environment for pupils. Leaders intend to make use of the additional space at the new premises to be able to accommodate requests for places, which the school is currently unable to provide due to insufficient space.  Leaders demonstrate secure knowledge and skills in relation to meeting the standards. There are robust systems in place to help the school to ensure that it will continue to meet these standards if the material changes are approved. Leaders have taken time to make sure that the new premises are fit for purpose and ready for pupils to learn. They have given careful thought to the transition process from the existing building to the new premises. This is significant, as leaders have identified

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Main inspection findings

that many pupils at the school may struggle with change.  Leaders propose to increase the number of pupils at the school to a maximum of 70. To ensure this increase is manageable, they plan to increase the total number on roll gradually over time. Leaders have given careful thought to staff recruitment and training to achieve this goal in the long term.  The standards in these paragraphs are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  Leaders have a suitable accessibility policy in place.  As such, the school is likely to continue to meet the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 if the material change is approved.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is likely to meet 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.

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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 likely compliance with the independent school standards relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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School details

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £70,000 to £100,000

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School details

Email address admin@thebridge-school.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 16 November 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 14 to 25 14 to 25 14 to 25

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 14 70 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 14 70 Number of part-time pupils 1 1

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 14 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 14 70

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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 14 70

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 8 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 4 6

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Information about this school

 All pupils have education, health and care plans and are placed and funded by a range of local authorities. Pupils have a range of complex special educational needs and/or disabilities, including autism. Many pupils are non-verbal.  The school caters for pupils of compulsory school age at its main premises at 148–150 Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5TY. Students aged 18 to 25 attend the premises opposite, at 167 Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5TY.  The school has a sole proprietor. She has appointed a governing body that acts in an advisory role.  The school currently has 14 pupils on roll, but it is currently registered to admit up to 35 pupils aged between 14 and 25.  The school’s most recent standard inspection was in November 2023.  The school does not make use of any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This was the first material change inspection commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to consider The Bridge Special Education Needs School’s application to make a change to its registration agreement. The requested change was to relocate the school’s premises from 148-150 & 167 Old Kent Road, London, SE1 5TY to Back of 2A Bensham Manor Road, Thornton Heath, London, CR7 7AA and to increase the number of pupils on roll from 35 to 70 at the new premises.  The inspection was conducted with two days’ notice.  The DfE requested that the inspector consider whether standards contained within parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  The inspector visited the new premises and conducted a tour of the school with the headteacher. The inspector met with the proprietor and the headteacher, who is also the designated safeguarding lead. He also met with some pupils and staff. The

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Information about this inspection

inspector also examined several documents and policies related to the material change request.

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Inspection team

Mark Smith 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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