Woodlands

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Woodlands Church Lane, Edenfield, Rossendale, Lancashire BL0 0QL

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraph 2(1), 2(1)(a) to 2(1)(b)(i)  At the school’s last standard inspection in March 2025, inspectors found that the school had several curriculum subjects that were underdeveloped. Some schemes of work were incomplete, and others did not have sufficient detail.  The school has put plans and schemes of work in place for all subjects. Plans and schemes of work show consideration for the needs of pupils who attend the school. Subject plans have been carefully considered to reflect the flexibility required to respond to pupils joining and leaving the school at non-standard points in the year. Assessment processes have been established linked to the renewed curriculum expectations. The aptitudes and needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, have been considered when designing the new curriculum.  These independent school standards (the standards) are now met.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 3, 3(c) to 3(e)  At the last standard inspection, inspectors found that weaknesses in curriculum design and incomplete schemes of work were often hindering how well staff could deliver the curriculum. This was impacting negatively on how well pupils could learn. Additionally, many teaching staff were new to their roles and were not as equipped as they should be to deliver subject curriculums effectively.  A programme of training and professional development has been established for staff. This has started to increase their understanding of the school’s expectations for pupils’ learning in the revised curriculum. Leaders are providing individualised support for each staff member to strengthen their understanding of how to design and implement learning activities that build pupils’ knowledge over time. However, staff need time to benefit from the range of support being put in place by leaders. Although there has been

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Main inspection findings

a strong start, there remains work to do to ensure that pupils learn as well as they could.  These standards remain unmet.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), and 32(1)(c)  Leaders make regular checks on the culture of safeguarding. Staff receive training that helps them to remain vigilant to any signs of concern. The safeguarding policy reflects the most recent statutory guidance and is published on the school’s website. There are well-understood systems in place for identifying, reporting and recording concerns about pupils. Staff know what to do if they have concerns about adults who work in the school should these arise.  These standards continue 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)  At the last standard inspection, inspectors found that the proprietor had not ensured that all of the standards were securely met. It had not addressed weaknesses in the design and delivery of the curriculum. Additionally, inspectors found that the proprietor did not have a sufficiently robust oversight of the quality of education. This had meant that deficiencies in the curriculum had not been addressed as swiftly as they should have been.  The proprietor has overseen the redesign of the curriculum. The curriculum plans and schemes of work are now fit for purpose. There are a range of professional development opportunities that have been established for staff. Although, at this time, they have not had enough impact on how the curriculum is being taught. This means that pupils are still not achieving as well as they should. The proprietor remains focused on the

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Main inspection findings

continued development of the curriculum.  There is now a rigid structure of monitoring at all levels. This enables the proprietor to quickly gain information about compliance with the standards as well as wider aspects of the school’s work. This is supported by the use of an external consultant, who has further strengthened the proprietor’s understanding of the requirements of the standards.  The 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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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 with and EHC plan.

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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

Annual fees (day pupils) £44,096 to £70,200

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School details

Website halliwellhomes.co.uk/woodlands-school

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School details

Email address emma.fletcher@halliwellhomes.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 19 to 21 March 2025

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Information about this school

 This school is located at Church Lane, Edenfield, Rossendale, Lancashire BL0 0QL.  This is a small, independent special school, which caters for up to nine pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils who attend the school have an education, health and care plan.  The school is registered for the age range 6- to 14-years-old. At the time of the inspection, there were no pupils in key stage 1 on roll.  The school is part of Halliwell Homes Limited. The group provides both education and care services for children.  The school’s previous standard inspection took place on 19 to 21 March 2025.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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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.  This is the school’s first monitoring inspection following the standard inspection in March 2025.  The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare a statutory action plan. The action plan was reviewed by Ofsted in July 2025. The DfE accepted the school’s action plan.  This inspection was carried out without notice.  The inspector met with the executive headteacher, head of education and the proprietor. She also met with other leaders and staff.  The inspector spoke to pupils and looked at examples of pupils’ work from across the curriculum.  The inspector made a tour of the school.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspector reviewed a wide range of documentation. This included information relating to the standards, the school’s curriculum and the school’s improvement priorities.  The inspection 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.

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Inspection team

Jane Dennis, 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; – 3(e) demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being taught.

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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. 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

Parent View You can use Parent View to give Ofsted your opinion on your child’s school. Ofsted will use the information parents and carers provide when deciding which schools to inspect and when and as part of the inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

You can also use Parent View to find out what other parents and carers think about schools in England. You can visit www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk , or look for the link on the main Ofsted website: www.gov.uk/ofsted .

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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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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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