Froebel House School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Froebel House School 5 Marlborough Avenue, Hull HU5 3JP

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1) and 2(1)(a)  At the previous independent standard school inspection in November 2023, the school’s curriculum was not well developed. The sequence of learning was not clear. It did not build from Reception through to Year 6 progressively.  At the previous progress monitoring visit, in September 2024, some progress had been made on the curriculum. The school had appropriate schemes of work in some subjects, such as mathematics. This included clear overviews identifying what pupils will learn and in what order. There was also lesson guidance for teachers to use alongside the curriculum overviews. However, the school had not produced full schemes of work in all subjects. In the wider curriculum subjects, there had not been sufficient thought to what gaps pupils might have in their learning.  This progress monitoring inspection found that the school has clear schemes of work

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Main inspection findings

across the curriculum. These map out the key knowledge and skills that pupils will learn at this school. Key vocabulary has been identified for each subject. These schemes are in place for all curriculum areas and are being taught in school. The progression in each subject is clear. Schemes of work identify what prior knowledge pupils need to be successful. This helps pupils get on with their new learning more effectively. The school has used the expertise of some staff in areas such as art and design to help develop the curriculum further.  Pupils talk about their learning with enthusiasm. They recall learning about coal mining in history and climate change in geography. Pupils’ work shows that the curriculum is taught as intended. Art sketchbooks show pupils learn about artists such as Chris Ofili. In design and technology, pupils take the time to practise skills before making and evaluating the products they have designed, such as making pop mechanisms or

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Main inspection findings

designing their own salad.  The school now meets these independent school standards (the standards). Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 7(a) to 7(b) and 32(1), 32(1)(c)  At the previous standard inspection in November 2023, a vigilant attitude to safeguarding was not prevalent in the school. An ethos of ‘it could happen here’ was not universally shared across the school. The way in which concerns were processed and followed up was not rigorous or robust. Information related to safeguarding was not gathered effectively. This meant the school was not able to identify patterns of concerns effectively.  During the previous progress monitoring inspection in September 2024, this approach to recording and sharing of safeguarding concerns remained inconsistent. The school had purchased an online recording system, but this was not yet in use. When there were

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding concerns there was insufficient evidence to show what actions the school had taken to keep pupils safe.  This progress monitoring inspection found that there have been some changes to the leadership team, including those responsible for safeguarding. The school has worked with the local authority and external consultants to understand the significant changes that are needed to improve safeguarding arrangements. However, some of this work remains in the early stages of development.  There continues to be an inconsistent approach to record-keeping related to safeguarding. The school uses an online system to record concerns. This is the second system they have used recently to log safeguarding issues. Not all staff are trained to use the online system. The different ways in which concerns are logged impacts the quality and consistency of safeguarding records the school holds.  The online system, combined with various paper records, does not hold all the

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Main inspection findings

information about any actions the school may take to keep pupils safe. Meetings with other agencies, and communications with professionals and parents and carers continue to not be recorded. It is difficult to ascertain all the actions the school takes to keep pupils safe. When the school does have concerns, discussions with parents and subsequent referrals are not recorded centrally. As a result, this means that the school does not have access to all the information about individual pupils or their safeguarding case records in one place.  This school has not established systems to monitor safeguarding concerns. This lack of oversight leads to confusion about who has completed what actions and when.  New leaders for safeguarding understand some contextual issues linked to safeguarding. They access support from the local authority and have attended relevant network meetings. Training for staff is not well considered. While staff understand some of the

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Main inspection findings

thresholds of potential harm, not all have received the training they need on all aspects of safeguarding. Some staff do not have the same level of access to training as other staff. Recent work to provide structure to safeguarding training is in the early stages of implementation. Weaknesses in staff training are exacerbated by the fact that the school does not have a clear record of which members of staff are trained and in what they are trained. The school therefore does not know if staff have the knowledge they need to keep pupils safe.  The school’s policy for safeguarding is appropriate and available for parents on the school’s website.  The school now has a more structured approach to teaching pupils how to keep themselves safe. Pupils are taught, in an age-appropriate way, about the different ways they can keep safe when they are online. Paragraph 15  At the previous progress monitoring inspection in September 2024, the school did not

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Main inspection findings

have electronic admissions and attendance registers. This is a statutory requirement as stated in ‘Working together to improve school attendance’, statutory guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities, August 2024. At the time of this progress monitoring inspection in March 2025, the school continues to use paper registers. The school has purchased an electronic register system, but this is not in use.  The required information which must be included in the admissions record is held in different places. Furthermore, the information is held both electronically and on paper. The school’s admissions register continues not to meet statutory requirements. T  The school uses the appropriate attendance and absence codes in the attendance registers. However, not all absences are coded or are followed up promptly. Paragraph 16  At the previous standard inspection in November 2023, the school had an appropriate

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Main inspection findings

risk assessment policy and risk assessments in place for different activities.  At the time of this progress monitoring inspection, there was nothing to suggest that these standards do not continue to be met. Risks are well managed across the school day. For example, at the start of the school day, pupils are well supervised by staff, particularly where members of the public are passing by. Pupils are well supervised around the school, including, when they are using the staircases.  The school continues to not meet some of the standards that were checked in these parts. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 21(1) to 21(3)(b)  The school makes the necessary checks to ensure that adults are suitable to work with pupils. The school ensures these checks are completed before adults start working at the school.  The school does not use supply staff.

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Main inspection findings

 The single central record is compliant and up to date.  The school continues to meet these standards.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1), 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b) and 34(1)(c)  At the previous standard inspection in November 2023, several standards were unmet. They remained unmet at the last progress monitoring inspection in September 2024. These standards related to the quality of education and welfare of pupils. At both inspections, leaders were not ensuring that the standards were met consistently. The school’s action plans were rejected by the Department for Education (DfE), the registration authority for independent schools, in both June 2024 and January 2025. A number of the standards remain unmet at the time of this inspection in March 2025.  The school continues to have unmet standards. There is not an established process to ensure that standards are met consistently and effectively.  The school has made changes to the leadership of safeguarding. It has made some

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Main inspection findings

changes to the school’s safeguarding arrangements. However, these are in the early stages of development. The school continues to work with external providers and the local authority to strengthen its safeguarding procedures.  Since the previous standard inspection, progress towards meeting the previously unmet standards has been too slow. This means that standards related to safeguarding, welfare, attendance, admissions and leadership remain unmet. These standards continue to be not met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school does not meet 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, as set out in the annex of this report. This included the standards and requirements that the school was judged to not comply with at the previous 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

Email address froebel@froebel.karoo.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 14 to 16 November 2023

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Information about this school

 At the time of this inspection, the proprietor was also the interim headteacher.  The designated safeguarding lead took up their post in January 2025.  The school operates from 5 Marlborough Avenue, Hull HU5 3JP.  The school is registered to cater for up to 140 pupils.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was carried out at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The purpose of the inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.  This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection since the standard inspection in November 2023. At the previous progress monitoring inspection in September 2024, the school did not meet the standards that were checked during the inspection.  The DfE required the school to prepare an action plan. This was a statutory requirement.  Ofsted evaluated the school’s action plan on 6 January 2025. The DfE rejected the school’s action plan.  This progress monitoring inspection was conducted without notice.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspectors met with the

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Information about this inspection

proprietor, who is also the interim headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) and deputy DSL. The inspectors also met with a range of other staff.  The inspectors scrutinised the school’s safeguarding policies and records. The inspectors scrutinised the school’s safeguarding policies and records and also reviewed the school’s single central record of pre-employment checks and safeguarding training and checked whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers.  The inspectors also reviewed the school’s records relating to attendance and admissions.  The inspectors discussed the revised curriculum plans and schemes of work. They looked at pupils’ work and spoke with pupils during lessons and social times.

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Inspection team

Emily Stevens, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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The school does not meet the following independent school standards

Standards that were not met at the previous inspection and remain un-met at this inspection

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 7 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 7(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and  15 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006[13].

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

 34(1) The standard about the quality of leadership and management is met if the proprietor ensures that persons with leadership and management responsibilities at the school– – 34(1)(a) demonstrate good skills and knowledge appropriate to their role so that the independent school standards are met consistently – 34(1)(b) fulfil their responsibilities effectively so that the independent school standards are met consistently; and – 34(1)(c) actively promote the well-being of pupils.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

 2 (1) The standard in this paragraph is met if– – 2(1)(a) the proprietor ensures that a written policy on the curriculum, supported by appropriate plans and schemes of work, which provides for the matters specified in sub- paragraph (2) is drawn up and implemented effectively. 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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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.

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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Part 1. Quality of education provided

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