Children's home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in West Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 1 SC427652 Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with moderate to severe learning difficulties and/or autism. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 2 June 2025. They are in the process of submitting an application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2025

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2025 Full Good 07/06/2021 Full Good 17/09/2019 Full Inadequate 12/08/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 3

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and three children have moved in. Two children contributed to this inspection. One child did not wish to share their views.

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improvement to be good

Several significant shortfalls in leadership and management, alongside the poor experience of one child while living at the home, mean this home requires improvement to be good. If leadership and management shortfalls persist, they have the potential to substantially undermine the quality of care provided. However, experiences for most children have been positive.

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improvement to be good

One child did not have a positive experience of living in the home. Due to serious safeguarding concerns, they had to move out of the home in an unplanned way. Leaders and managers shared that this had a negative impact on the other child in the home at the time.

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improvement to be good

For the three children who have moved in since the last inspection, managers have not completed a risk assessment in which they consider the group dynamic of the children and the home’s ability to meet the children’s needs. This has contributed to one child’s negative experiences.

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improvement to be good

One child did not always receive consistent boundaries and responses from staff. On two occasions, the child was told that they would not be taken by staff to meet a peer in a big city location. Following the child becoming angry, they were then taken by staff to the location that they had previously been told they could not visit. This child had an assessed need for clear boundaries and routines.

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improvement to be good

Despite the shortfalls found during this inspection, the current children are responding well to consistent boundaries and clear expectations. They are invested in a reward- based system which replaces sanctions within the home. They engage in this system when they return from school in order to earn extra rewards. The system is designed so that children are always able to earn rewards regardless of other rewards that may not have been earned that day, and therefore they continue to feel motivated.

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improvement to be good

Two children had a positive experience of moving into the home. They were able to visit the home and take part in activities with the child already living there. For these two children, staff from their previous home moved with them to this home. This allowed for continuity and for children to be cared for by staff that they know and trust. Two children told the inspector that they were happy that their staff ‘came over with them’.

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improvement to be good

One child has made significant progress in a short space of time. They have been able to undertake work experience that will equip them with the skills needed for employment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 4 They have also enjoyed volunteering with the elderly. This child’s mother said that their child is more sociable and can now enjoy more evening activities. She shared that she would like her child to remain living in the home into adulthood.

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improvement to be good

Children are involved in the running of the home, and their wishes and feelings are taken into consideration. The manager reviews all documents in which children are sharing their views, and actions children’s requests when possible. When this is not possible, the manager ensures that children are supported to understand why.

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improvement to be good

Managers have been unable to locate the case file for one child. For this child, there were significant concerns about unsafe peer relationships and safety in the community. The absence of these records mean that limited evidence is available to show the guidance available to staff.

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improvement to be good

The absence of case records means it is not possible to clearly understand decision- making in respect of the child. Leaders and managers report that they disagreed with instructions given by the placing authority. However, there is no record of these instructions, and leaders and managers did not take effective action to challenge what they considered inappropriate safeguarding decisions.

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improvement to be good

Staff have not always followed this child’s risk assessment in relation to missing-from- care episodes and have not always reported the child missing in the time frame specified. This had not been identified by leaders and managers in their own monitoring and review processes.

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improvement to be good

Staff talk to children to share their concerns and provide advice and support following significant incidents, or to support children with their individual targets. For two children, these conversations have been successful. Staff spoke to one child about being able to recognise when they were feeling overwhelmed in a social situation and being able to take themselves out of the situation if needed. Since this conversation, this child has been able to manage social situations and end these interactions in a positive way.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment processes are followed. Most staff are qualified and complete training in line with children’s specific needs, for example in a child’s preferred method of communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Since the last inspection, there have been significant changes in the leadership and management of the home. Ofsted have not always been notified of these changes. Ofsted received notification of the manager leaving the home on the day that she was leaving. Ofsted were not updated in relation to the interim management arrangements, and, in addition, they were not notified when a permanent manager was appointed. This limits Ofsted’s oversight and understanding of the leadership and management of the Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 5 home. The permanent manager started in June 2025. They have not yet registered with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not ensured that children’s case files are stored securely. At the time of the inspection, the manager was unable to locate the case file for one child. The records that were located for this child related to their previous children’s home. This has limited Ofsted’s ability to gain a full understanding of the child’s experiences, or how the child was helped and protected during their time in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been one significant incident since the last inspection that has been reported to Ofsted. This report omitted significant safeguarding information. This information was also not included in the incident report and the manager was unable to locate the daily recording record for the child for that day. This does not ensure that all professionals and staff are aware of the significant emerging risks for this child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There have been significant material changes to the property, including a games room being built in the garden. In addition, the garage is being used as accommodation for someone not employed at the home. At the time of the inspection, there was insufficient separation between the accommodation and the home itself. Leaders and managers had not notified Ofsted of these changes. These changes have not been included in any risk assessments that consider the safety of the grounds or the suitability of the location of the home. In addition, the assessment of the suitability of the location of the home does not consider up-to-date crime statistics.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Ofsted has not always been sent independent visitor reports in a timely way. No report was received for January, the report for March was not received until May, and since then, no other reports have been received. The visitor was able to show evidence that visits took place, but the reports were not sent to Ofsted. These issues further limit Ofsted’s oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager is new to the home and has plans for improvement. The manager is supported by a mentor who is a manager for another home in the company. This support is regular and well planned. Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

children’s case records are kept up to date, contain the relevant information and are stored securely;

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Requirement Due date

staff follow prescribed protocols when children are missing from the home; and

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Requirement Due date

risk assessments consider the risks posed by building works and other material changes to the external areas of the home. 30 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and 30 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 7 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers review records in the home and use this review to identify when children’s plans have not been correctly followed and take effective actions to address any issues identified.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 30 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (2)(a)(b)) 30 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI, as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place—

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Requirement Due date

a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

the premises of the home are significantly altered or extended, or additional premises are acquired. (Regulation 49 (a)(g)) 30 July 2025

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 30 July 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 8 A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(iii)) 30 July 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process: Children’s homes regulation amendments 2014: Advice for the providers of children’s homes on new duties under regulations that came into effect in January and April 2014. In particular, in undertaking the assessment of the suitability of the location, the registered person should undertake internet-based searches of local crime statistics, obtaining the indices of deprivation and other relevant data. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Information about this inspection

The Inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Greenwood House, Greenwood Court, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7GY

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Inspector

Andrea Bounden, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC427652 10 regulates and inspects to 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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