LS-TEN

School material change inspection report

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LS-TEN Unit 1 Airedale Industrial Estate, 1–4 Kitson Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS10 1NT

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b)  The proprietor body ensures that the school has a comprehensive safeguarding policy and procedures in place. For example, the safeguarding policy takes account of the most recent legislation and guidance. It is checked by the chair of the proprietor body and published on the school’s website.  The proprietor body understands its statutory responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils. The school implements effective procedures to record, monitor and report any concerns about pupils’ welfare. The school works closely with external professionals, when needed, to keep pupils safe.  The proprietor body recognises the increased demands that will be placed upon the school if the proposed increase in pupil numbers is agreed. It has appointed additional staff to promote the welfare, health and safety of pupils. These staff include a

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Main inspection findings

pastoral and safeguarding manager, a safeguarding and attendance officer and additional behaviour and welfare support staff. In addition, the proprietor body has appointed additional staff to support pupils with more complex social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.  The proprietor body employs an online training service to ensure that all staff are appropriately developed to support the welfare, health and safety of pupils. Safeguarding training is updated regularly to ensure all staff members are kept up to date with the most recent statutory guidance. In addition, safeguarding leaders receive enhanced safeguarding training provided by the local authority. Paragraph 11, 12 and 14  The proprietor body ensures that there are appropriate procedures in place to keep pupils, staff and any visitors to the school safe. The school has a detailed health and safety policy. This documents staff roles and their responsibilities and how the school

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Main inspection findings

will continue to meet relevant health and safety laws.  The school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The proprietor body ensures a detailed fire risk assessment is implemented on the school premises on a yearly basis. The proprietor body ensures staff and pupils practise fire drills and premises evacuations frequently.  The school has appointed additional teaching and welfare staff in readiness for the proposed increase in pupil numbers. Current staffing is sufficient to ensure that the proposed number of pupils are adequately supervised and kept safe throughout the school day. Paragraph 16, 16(a) to 16(b)  The proprietor body ensures that the school follows an effective risk assessment process. The school has a comprehensive risk register with an appropriate range of risk assessments. Risk assessments identify potential risks and hazards inside and outside of the school premises. Risk assessments also detail the actions that will be

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Main inspection findings

taken to mitigate and manage risk. This includes considering pupils’ specific special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and additional vulnerabilities.  The school has adapted its provision to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers. For example, in each new learning space, class sizes are to be kept small, with an appropriate number of teaching and support staff. In addition, the school will have staggered breaks and lunchtimes. This will reduce pupil numbers in communal areas and ensure less movement around the building at social times.  All independent school standards (‘the standards’) in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3) to 18(4)(c), 19(1) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 20(4) to 21(3)(b) and 21(6) to 21(8)  The proprietor body ensures that the school has comprehensive safer recruitment

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Main inspection findings

procedures in place. It ensures the school implements procedures to ensure compliance with statutory requirements for the safe recruitment of staff.  The school implements all required suitability checks on members of the proprietor body, school leaders and contractors.  The school sometimes makes use of supply staff. The school can demonstrate what checks are needed to ensure supply staff are suitable to work with children.  The school uses an electronic record of recruitment checks on adults. This is well maintained and checked periodically. All necessary checks have been carried out to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children, including for those who are newly appointed, to manage the proposed increase in numbers.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) to 23(2), 24(1) to 24(2), 25 to 29(1)(b)

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Main inspection findings

 The school premises have an adequate number of toilets and washing facilities for the proposed number of pupils. There is a suitable shower and accessible disabled toilet. The shower area and accessible disabled toilet have floor to ceiling doors that can be secured from the inside. Separate toilet facilities for boys and girls are adjacent to teaching areas.  There is an accessible medical room for the short-term treatment of sick and injured pupils. The medical room is appropriately equipped and includes a washing facility and medical examination bed. It is located near to an accessible disabled toilet.  The school premises are presented to a good standard. Inside and outside areas are well maintained. There is adequate external and internal lighting to ensure pupils and staff can safely enter and leave the premises. The adjacent skatepark area is well lit and ventilated.  Classrooms and communal areas have adequate lighting and are spacious. They have

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Main inspection findings

sufficient space for small groups of pupils to work and socialise in suitable acoustic conditions. This includes two new mobile classrooms. These are well furnished with new classroom furniture and resources. Some existing teaching areas have been expanded to add additional learning space. These are presented to a good standard.  The school premises have ample space for pupils to exercise, socialise and learn. There is plentiful indoor and outside space to cover the academic and physical education curriculums.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(c)  The school has published its safeguarding policy on its website. The proprietor body ensures that this policy is updated at least annually. Paragraph 32(3)(b)  The proprietor body ensures the school’s website has an appropriate policy that details the educational and welfare provision for pupils who have an education, health

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Main inspection findings

and care (EHC) plan. Paragraph 32(3)(d)  The website for the school contains links to the required policies mandated in the independent school standards. For example, it includes links to the school’s safeguarding policy, behaviour policy, health and safety policy and first aid policy. These are available to parents and carers on request.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(2)  The proprietor body has further developed the school to accommodate the proposed increase in pupil numbers. At the time of the material change inspection, there were 17 pupils on roll. In addition, eight part-time pupils attend the school at different times during the week. The proprietor body proposes to offer only full-time places at the school.  At the time of the material change inspection, the school had an agreed capacity of 28

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Main inspection findings

full-time pupils. The proprietor body proposes to gradually increase the number of pupils attending the school to a maximum of 42 full-time pupils.  The proprietor body has given careful thought to the design and layout of the school’s premises and how they will be used to accommodate a growing number of pupils. There is sufficient school space to accommodate the proposed changes, while ensuring the welfare and safety of pupils. Additional staff have been appointed in readiness for the admission of more pupils.  The proprietor body and the headteacher demonstrate a good understanding of the independent school standards and how to ensure that these are met consistently.  All the standards in this part are likely to continue to be met if this material change is accepted. Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor body ensures that the school has a suitable accessibility plan. The school is aware of adaptations that may be needed to ensure that the curriculum and

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Main inspection findings

physical environment meet all pupils’ needs. The equality policy and accessibility plan demonstrate how the school will meet its statutory responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 effectively.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £20,963 to £61,500

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 12 to 14 November 2024

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 17 11 to 17 11 to 17

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 17 42 42

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 17 42

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 17 42

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 17 42

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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 17 42

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 7 8

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 16 18

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Information about this school

 The school operates from Unit 1 Airedale Industrial Estate, 1–4 Kitson Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS10 1NT. The school building is shared with a skatepark at the same address. The skatepark is open to the public in the evenings and at weekends. Pupils attending the school also use the skatepark facilities during the school day.  The school was registered with the Department for Education (DfE) as an independent school in January 2021.  The school’s last standard inspection was in November 2024 when its overall effectiveness was judged as requires improvement.  All pupils attending the school have SEND, and most pupils have an EHC plan. Most pupils have SEMH needs.  The school receives referrals for pupils through different SEND panels across Leeds City Council. Pupils join the school throughout the year.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The DfE commissioned this inspection to check the suitability of the school’s premises for the material change and whether the school can accommodate an increase in pupil numbers. The proprietor body would like to increase the maximum permitted number of pupils on the school roll from 28 to 42 pupils.  This was the second material change in respect of this particular change that the school has applied to make.  The inspector held meetings with the headteacher, the chair of the proprietor body and other leaders in the school.  To check compliance with the independent school standards, the inspector had a tour of the school premises. The inspector also reviewed the school’s fire safety arrangements and several related policies. These included the health and safety policy and risk management policy.  To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding and the arrangements for staff recruitment, the inspector reviewed the school’s single central record and met with

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Information about this inspection

the designated safeguarding lead. The inspector also spoke with several members of staff and trustees about the safeguarding culture in the school.

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Inspection team

David Mills, lead inspector 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

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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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