Willow Park School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Willow Park School Newbold-on-Avon RFC, Parkfield Road, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 1EZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(i), 2(2), 2(2)(b)  As part of its work to improve the quality of education provided to pupils, the school has rightly identified the need to revise its curriculum. The aim is to better support those pupils at the early stages of learning and lay appropriate foundations for the next stages of learning. These changes include moving to a new synthetic phonics programme and a new mathematics curriculum, as well as developing pupils’ independent communication skills. Much of this work is still in the piloting and reviewing period, meaning that these requirements are not currently met.  The school is making sure that the necessary policies and schemes are in place, so that pupils at the earliest stages acquire the appropriate prerequisites to speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy. However, this work is at the early stages and means that these

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Main inspection findings

requirements are not currently met.  The independent school standards (the standards) in this part were met at the previous inspection but are now unmet. Paragraph 3, 3(c) and 3(d)  At the previous standard inspection, the school was not ensuring that all lessons were as effectively planned and delivered as they could be. Sometimes the specific needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) were not informing decisions about the curriculum. Sometimes, learning activities were not adapted well enough to meet the needs of pupils with SEND.  Since the last inspection, there has been considerable work completed to develop staff skills and expertise in adapting the curriculum for pupils. There are now more individual and small-group sessions to support pupils learning at a stage-appropriate level in phonics and mathematics. Staff have been given training to develop their skills in using

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Main inspection findings

appropriate communication strategies to ensure that pupils routinely understand their learning. However, this work is in the earlier stages of development so there remain some inconsistencies in how effectively these strategies are used to support effective learning. The school has recently commissioned external support, for example occupational therapy, to further support this work. The school has a clear understanding of what still needs to be done to ensure that there is a consistent standard to the quality of education it provides.  These requirements remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b)  Safeguarding arrangements continue to be effective. The school’s safeguarding policy aligns with statutory guidelines, ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Continuous training and professional development equip all staff members with the expertise needed to identify and respond effectively to concerns about pupils. The well- established system for reporting and monitoring concerns remains consistently implemented. Leaders of safeguarding ensure that all concerns, however minor they may appear, are acted upon swiftly. They remain actively engaged with external agencies to ensure that pupils receive the support they need.  These standards continue to be met. Paragraph 16 to 16(b)  The school takes a robust approach to risk assessment and management of the school environment, community and specific activities, for example external visits. However,

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Main inspection findings

currently, there are no written risk assessments for specific health needs that current pupils have, such as pica and dysphagia.  These standards are no longer met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school continues to publish its arrangements for safeguarding pupils on its website. This document is in line with statutory guidance from the Secretary of State.  This requirement continues to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(b)  In the school’s first standard inspection in December 2024, it was noted that leaders, including the proprietor, demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to fulfil their roles. There was a well-thought-out professional development programme for staff, to help improve the quality of education provided. However, the school did not consistently meet all of the independent school standards.  The school’s continued work to improve the quality of education since the previous inspection is commendable. Through the use of a well-focused action plan, committed staff and leaders have made sure that progress has been made in ensuring that pupils benefit from more bespoke learning experiences. Proprietors and leaders have closely monitored and refined improvement actions to ensure that they have the necessary impact on pupils’ learning.

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Main inspection findings

 The fact that paragraphs 2(1) to 2(1)(b)(i) and 2(2)(b) are now unmet is a result of the school making the right choice to review and make significant changes to its curriculum to meet the specific needs of current pupils. This decision is rooted in what is in pupils’ best interests, although it has resulted in these requirements no longer being met during the period of change.  There has been a change in the school’s leadership structure, creating clearer distinction between operational and strategic leadership of the school. These changes took place in the week before this progress monitoring inspection. As such, this is currently a period of transition for the school.  The unmet standards in this part remain unmet.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Website www.willowparkschool.warwickshire.sch.uk

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School details

Email address office@willowparkschool.warwickshire.sch.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 3 to 5 December 2024

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Information about this school

 Willow Park School is an independent day school. It offers up to 20 places for pupils with SEND. This includes pupils with autism and pupils with speech, language and communication needs. All pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan. Currently, pupils are referred to the school from six local authorities.  There have been changes to the school’s leadership structure since the previous standard inspection. The school is now overseen by a principal, supported by a headteacher. The headteacher took up the post in April 2025.  The school does not use any alternative provision.  The school’s first standard inspection was from 3 to 5 December 2024.

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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.  At the school’s standard inspection, which was carried out in December 2024, the school did not comply with all the standards.  The Department for Education required the school to prepare an action plan. Ofsted evaluated this action plan on 4 March 2025. The DfE accepted the action plan on 17 March 2025.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection since the school was found not to comply with the standards at its last standard inspection.  Leaders were not given any prior notice of this progress monitoring inspection. The inspector arrived at the start of the school day.  The inspector met with the principal, headteacher and both joint proprietors.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector examined a range of school improvement and curriculum documents. They also visited lessons and spoke with pupils and staff.  The inspector also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.  The inspector examined the school’s most recent action plan and considered evidence of progress against planned actions. The inspector discussed the progress against the previously unmet standards with the principal, headteacher and the proprietors.

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Inspection team

Nicola Beech, 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 1. Quality of education provided

 3 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the teaching at the school- – 3(c) involves well planned lessons and effective teaching methods, activities and management of class time; – 3(d) shows a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainments of the pupils, and ensures that these are taken into account in the planning of lessons;

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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

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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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; and – 2(1)(b) the written policy, plans and schemes of work- – 2(1)(b)(i) take into account the ages, aptitudes and needs of all pupils, including those pupils with an EHC plan; and  2(2) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(1)(a), the matters are- – 2(2)(b) that pupils acquire speaking, listening, literacy and numeracy skills;

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. 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 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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