Fairlight Glen Independent Special School

School material change inspection report

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Fairlight Glen Independent Special School Verona House, 45 Station Road, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5QQ

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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(a), 16(b), 32(1)(c)  There is a safeguarding policy in place, which can be provided to parents on request. However, it is not fit for purpose. Although the policy identifies the designated safeguarding leads and provides contact details for the local authority safeguarding team, it lacks the content required to meet statutory guidance. Specifically, the policy does not outline the procedures and processes for addressing a range of safeguarding concerns, including those relating to pupils and low-level concerns or allegations about adults.  The school takes appropriate action when concerns are raised about a pupil such as conducting welfare checks when pupils are absent. However, these concerns, actions and checks are not recorded in a consistent or effective manner. While some records

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Main inspection findings

exist for the most serious safeguarding concerns, they are disjointed and do not clearly reflect the actions taken or the outcomes achieved.  The safeguarding leads have appropriate external training to complete their designated safeguarding role. All staff read part one of ‘Keeping children safe in education’ on an annual basis. Staff demonstrate an understanding of how to ensure pupils’ immediate safety. However, staff have not been trained to identify and respond to more complex or subtle safeguarding issues.  Leaders at all levels do not demonstrate a secure understanding of statutory safeguarding guidance. This includes limited awareness of the appropriate actions to take when a member of staff is dismissed due to safeguarding concerns.  There is a health and safety policy in place. However, this policy is not fit for purpose. The policy does not clearly outline the procedures that staff and school leaders are

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Main inspection findings

expected to follow to ensure a safe environment.  Staffing levels are appropriate for the current number of pupils. Staff are deployed effectively to supervise pupils both on site and during off-site activities such as school trips. In addition, current staffing levels would be sufficient for the proposed material change.  The school has an effective risk assessment policy, which clearly outlines the procedures for identifying and managing potential risks. Risk assessments are well written and demonstrate appropriate mitigation measures in response to identified risks.  The proprietor ensures compliance with fire safety regulations. Regular checks are made on fire safety systems and equipment in the school, including emergency lighting.  The proprietor has not ensured that the independent school standards (the standards) in this part related to safeguarding and health and safety are likely to be met by the

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(b)(ii), 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(6)  The single central record complies with statutory guidance and includes all required information on staff, including those in leadership roles and the chair of the proprietor body. The proprietor conducts regular reviews of the single central record to ensure that all necessary checks have been completed.  The school does not use supply staff but is aware of the checks they would need to make if they did.  All pre-employment checks are conducted rigorously to ensure the suitability of school staff.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met by the school.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to (24)(1)(b), 24(2) to 29(1)(b)  There is appropriate internal, external and emergency lighting through the school.  There is suitable medical accommodation for pupils that contains the appropriate facilities, equipment and resources. The school provides adequate internal and external space to support pupils’ learning and development. There are multiple classroom areas, including specialist rooms for physical education, music recording and art. In addition, a large outdoor area is available for both recreational use and physical education activities.  The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met by the school. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor and school leaders are committed to pupils’ well-being and provide a nurturing and caring environment. However, the school has not ensured that pupils’

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Main inspection findings

welfare and long-term personal development are supported effectively. This is due to ineffective systems for understanding and meeting pupils’ special educational needs and/or disabilities. Pupils are not receiving the therapy that they require to meet their complex social, emotional and mental health needs.  The proprietor body does not have secure oversight of the quality of systems and processes in the school. Although regular meetings are held with school leaders, discussions are not sufficiently robust to evaluate how effectively the school is meeting its statutory duties, including those relating to safeguarding.  School leaders do not demonstrate the necessary knowledge or skills regarding the standards or their responsibilities in meeting them. The proprietor has not ensured that leaders receive appropriate training or support to develop this understanding. As a result, the school does not consistently fulfil its responsibility to meet the standards.

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Main inspection findings

 The proprietor has not ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met by the school.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor ensures that the school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 by publishing a suitable accessibility plan. This plan is reviewed regularly.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely 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, as set out in the annex of this report.

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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

Proprietor Pilgrims Corner Education Ltd

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School details

Email address education@pilgrimscorner.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 18 to 20 July 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 8 to 18 Not applicable Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 12 20 12

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recommendation

The school is unlikely to meet a number of the standards. Increasing pupil numbers at this time would not support the necessary improvements to the school’s processes and systems.

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 12 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 12 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 12 20

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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 12 20

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 5 5

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision 0 0

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Information about this school

 Fairlight Glen Independent Special School, Verona House, 45 Station Road, Herne Bay, Kent CT6 5QQ, caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school is part of Pilgrims Corner Education Limited.  The school only operates from this site.  The school does not currently make use of any alternative provision.  The school’s most recent standard inspection took place on 18 to 20 July 2023.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE). It was commissioned to consider a material change to the school’s registration agreement with the DfE. The inspection focused on the standards with regard to the welfare, health and safety of pupils, the suitability of staff, supply staff and proprietor, premises and accommodation, provision of information regarding safeguarding and the quality of leadership and management of the school.  The proprietor has applied for one material change. The proposed change is to increase the number of pupils from 12 to 20.  The inspector checked the school’s arrangements for safeguarding as part of the inspection. This included a review of the school’s policy and recruitment procedures. The inspector also considered whether these arrangements have been properly implemented.  The inspector met with the assistant headteacher and the chair of the proprietor body.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector checked the suitability of the school’s premises and discussed this with leaders.  The inspector looked at a range of documents in relation to the material change. This included policy documents and paperwork relating to health and safety and fire safety regulations.

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Inspection team

Nina Marabese, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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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 – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 11 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that relevant health and safety laws are complied with by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written health and safety policy.

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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. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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