Benton House School

School pre-registration inspection report

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Benton House School Benton House, Front Street, Benton NE7 7XE

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(2)(b), 2(2)(d) to 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(h) to 2(2)(i)  The school has planned a broad and ambitious curriculum for key stage 1 to key stage 3. The school has designed the curriculum to prepare pupils well for the transition to key stage 4 study. It has identified the essential knowledge it wants pupils to learn and organised this knowledge in a logical way. There is a central focus on literacy and numeracy throughout the curriculum. Moreover, the school has planned a separate curriculum for key stage 1 pupils who may join the school below age-related expectations. It has a Department for Education (DfE) approved phonics programme in place. The curriculum includes the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. In addition, pupils will study the foundation subjects of history, geography, computer science, art and design and physical education. The school plans to enrich

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Main inspection findings

the curriculum through a range of activities including music, educational visits and outdoor experiences.  The planned curriculum includes personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and careers education. The school has developed a PSHE curriculum informed by the work of a national body for PSHE education. The school’s PSHE curriculum includes content on the protected characteristics and fundamental British values. It is designed to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain. The school has begun to engage with the local community. It wants pupils to benefit from links with local charities and businesses. It wants pupils to contribute to the well-being of those who live in the community. Pupils will receive appropriate careers education, starting in the primary phase of the school. As they move through the school, they will get increasing chances to explore potential career opportunities.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has designed the curriculum to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school plans to assess pupils’ needs on entry through a well-considered induction programme. The school will use nationally recognised reading and cognition assessments to determine pupils’ starting points. The school intends to adapt the curriculum for individual pupils, based on pupils’ starting points, and informed by education, health and care (EHC) plans. Paragraphs 2(A)(1) to 2(A)(1)(b), 2(A)(1)(d) to 2(A)(2)  The school’s approach to relationships and sex education and the content of its proposed curriculum meets statutory guidance. It has appropriate plans in place to provide relationships education for pupils of primary age and relationships and sex education for pupils of secondary age. The school plans to consult with parents about the content of its relationships and sex education curriculum. The school’s

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Main inspection findings

relationships and sex education policy contains information about parents’ right to withdraw secondary-age pupils from sex education. Paragraphs 3 to 4  The school has developed teaching and learning and assessment policies to support the effective implementation of the curriculum. The policies take into account the needs of pupils with SEND, particularly with regard to social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. The school intends to provide teachers with initial training and ongoing professional development so that pupils receive high-quality teaching that meets their individual needs.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part are likely to be met. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5 to 5(d)(iii)  Pupils’ personal development, including their spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development is central to the school’s ethos. The school will use its PSHE

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Main inspection findings

curriculum, tutor time and assemblies to promote pupils’ SMSC development. Pupils will have opportunities to explore different cultures, faiths and beliefs. They will discuss and debate important moral issues and learn what it means to be an active citizen.  The school understands its responsibility to ensure that pupils are free from the promotion of partisan political views, either through the teaching of the curriculum or through any other school activity.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7 to 7(b)  The proprietor has ensured that the foundations for rigorous safeguarding practices are established at the proposed school. Such practices are informed by statutory guidance. The school’s proposed safeguarding systems and processes, including with regard to recording and reporting concerns, should provide for a strong culture of

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding. The school’s designated safeguarding leads have completed the relevant safeguarding training. Plans are in place for staff safeguarding training as part of the staff induction programme and thereafter at regular intervals. This should ensure that staff have the knowledge they need to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.  The school has established links with external safeguarding partners, including local authorities. It already works closely with the local authority designated officer for North Tyneside. The school proposes to work with parents and carers to raise their awareness of safeguarding risks. Pupils will be taught how to keep themselves safe, including in the local community and online. Paragraphs 9 to 10  The school has appropriate behaviour and anti-bullying policies in place. The behaviour policy allows for reasonable adjustments to be made with regard to pupils’ SEND needs. The school intends to adapt its approach to individual pupils, informed

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Main inspection findings

by pupils’ EHC plans and by its broader knowledge and understanding of pupils. Paragraphs 11 to 14  The school has a health and safety policy in place that complies with relevant health and safety laws. It also has a first aid policy that outlines how first aid will be administered. The final certificate signing off the completion of all building works, including with regard to fire safety, has been received by the school. The school has a fire safety policy and a fire plan and evacuation procedure in place. All fire equipment has been installed and tested. The school’s policies and intended practices should ensure a rigorous approach to health and safety, including fire safety.  The school has planned for the appropriate deployment of staff. It has a two-year growth plan that sees the school reaching its full capacity of 60 pupils by the summer of 2027. It intends to employ staff in line with this plan so that staff are

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Main inspection findings

recruited and trained before pupils join the school. The school intends to recruit an initial cohort of eight pupils. It has already appointed sufficient staff to meet the needs of these pupils. At full capacity, the school intends to teach pupils in nine age-based teaching groups of no more than seven pupils per group. Each teaching group will be staffed with a teacher and teaching assistant. The school will deploy additional support staff, including pastoral staff and therapeutic staff, according to pupils’ needs. Paragraphs 15 to 16(b)  The school has established an appropriate admissions register and electronic attendance register. It understands its duty to maintain these registers in accordance with statutory regulations.  The school has a risk assessment policy in place. It has identified a wide range of potential risks and completed appropriate assessments of those risks. This should ensure that pupils’ health and welfare is safeguarded.

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Main inspection findings

 The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3)  The proprietor has completed all relevant pre-employment checks on those staff who have already been appointed to work at the school. It takes a systematic approach to these checks. No member of staff will start work at the school prior to these checks having been completed. The school does not intend to use supply staff. However, should this intention change the school understands its role in ensuring that supply agencies complete the necessary pre-employment checks on supply staff. Paragraphs 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(6) to 27(1)(b)  All relevant pre-employment checks on members of the proprietor body have been undertaken in a rigorous and timely manner. These pre-employment checks and the dates of these checks are recorded on the school’s single central record.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraphs 21(1) to 21(4)  The proprietor maintains a single central record of all the pre-employment checks on staff. The school’s single central record records all relevant checks and the dates on which those checks were made. This includes details for staff who have recently been appointed to work at the proposed school. It also includes details for the interim executive headteacher, who is the headteacher of another school within the proprietor body’s group of schools. Paragraphs 21(5) to 25(1)(c)  The school does not intend to employ supply staff. However, should this intention change it understands the information it needs to record on the school’s single central record.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25 to 28(2)(b)  The school’s building contractor has completed all building works, and the school has

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Main inspection findings

received its final certificate confirming compliance with building regulations. The premises have been completed a to a high standard. Pupils will benefit from a safe and well-resourced environment that meets their needs. The school has appropriate toilet, washing, shower, medical care and therapy facilities. The toilets and showers are individual units, secured from the inside. These facilities are sufficient for the number of pupils proposed by the school. Paragraphs 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  The premises include suitable outdoor space for physical education and play. There is a key stage 1 playground and a larger multi-use games area for key stage 2 and 3 pupils. The premises have extensive and secure grounds, parts of which can also be used for outdoor activities and play.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1) to 32(1)(d), 32(1)(f) to 32(2)(a), 32(2)(b), 32(2)(b)(ii) to 32(4)(c)

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Main inspection findings

 The school intends to publish the information required by the standards on a school website. This website has been constructed and is ready for publishing. It will include a statement of the school’s aims and ethos and school policies for safeguarding, SEND, behaviour and admissions. It will also include contact details of the school, headteacher, governing body and proprietor body.  The school understands its responsibilities with regard to providing information to local authorities about pupils with EHC plans. It intends to contribute to annual reviews of pupils’ EHC plans and provide local authorities with the financial information required.  The school plans to provide parents with reports about pupils’ progress three times a year. The annual report in the summer term will give parents information about pupils’ progress in all subjects. The school also proposes to invite parents to regular meetings

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Main inspection findings

about pupils’ progress and achievement, at least three times a year.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraphs 33 to 33(k)  The school has a written complaints policy and procedure in place. This provides relevant information about the complaints process, including timescales, complainants’ rights and the school’s responsibilities.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor has undertaken a thorough recruitment and selection process for the appointment of school leaders. It has appointed leaders who possess the knowledge, skills and experience to lead and manage this proposed independent special school. It has also ensured that these leaders share the proprietor’s vision of promoting pupils’ well-being, above all else. The headteacher and deputy headteacher have previous

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Main inspection findings

experience of working in leadership roles in special schools, particularly SEMH provision. They are supported by an interim executive headteacher with extensive experience of headship within the proprietor’s group of independent special schools.  The proprietor has appointed a chair of governors for the school who will provide appropriate support and challenge for school leaders. The school will benefit from the proprietor’s well-established quality assurance systems and processes, used across its other schools. It will also benefit from collaborative work with two of the proprietor’s schools that are located nearby. This should all help to ensure that school leaders fulfil their roles and responsibilities effectively.  The proprietor has adopted a well-considered approach to the growth of the proposed school. This approach is aligned with the proprietor’s vision of providing a high-quality education for pupils with SEND. Pupils will benefit from the specialist support of a

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Main inspection findings

well-established clinical team that works across the proprietor’s group of schools. This should all ensure that individual pupils’ needs are met, as the school develops in its first two years.  The quality of the school leaders appointed, together with robust quality assurance systems and support from the proprietor’s central staff team, should ensure that the standards are met consistently over time.  The standards in this part are likely to be met. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The school has an accessibility plan in place. The plan outlines how the school will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that pupils can access the curriculum and information as well as the physical environment.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Proprietor Acorn Care and Education Limited

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Proposed school details

Annual fees (day pupils) £55,241 to £85,241

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Proposed school details

Email address admin@bentonhouseschool.co.uk

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 5 to 14 5 to 14 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 60 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable 60

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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 Not applicable 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Not applicable 13

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable 19

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Information about this proposed school

 The proposed school is located in Benton, North Tyneside. It proposes to operate from premises at Benton House, Benton NE7 7XE.  The school proposes to cater for pupils with SEMH needs. It will cater for pupils whose primary needs are SEMH but who also have other needs, including autism; moderate learning difficulties; specific learning difficulties; and speech, language and communication needs.

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Information about this inspection

 The Department for Education (DfE) commissioned Ofsted to carry out this pre- registration inspection. The purpose of the inspection was to determine whether the proposed school was likely to meet the independent school standards should the DfE decide to allow the school to open.  This was the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, interim executive headteacher, deputy headteacher, chair of governors and a member of the proprietor body.  Inspectors discussed the proposed school’s curriculum with school leaders and looked at curriculum plans and schemes of work for all proposed subjects.  Inspectors met with the school’s designated safeguarding lead. They looked at safeguarding documentation and record-keeping, including the single central record.  Inspectors had a tour of the school site and scrutinised a wide range of documentary evidence to check on the statutory requirements of the independent school standards.

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Inspection team

Ian Rawstorne, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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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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Inspection team

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