Ramsden Hall

Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 1 Ramsden Hall Academy Ramsden Hall Academy, Heath Road, Ramsden Heath, Billericay, Essex CM11 1HN Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

Ramsden Hall Academy is currently sponsored by the Parallel Learning Trust. It is a day and residential special school that caters for boys aged from 10 to 16 who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The school is based in a rural area on the outskirts of a large town.

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Information about this residential special school

There are 112 children on roll at the school. Of these, up to 30 children board on a flexible basis. The school can accommodate up to 40 children in the residential provision for between one and four nights per week. At the time of this inspection, 19 children were staying in the residential provision each night.

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Information about this residential special school

The residential manager has been in post for over five years and has the necessary experience and qualifications for the role.

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Information about this residential special school

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential special school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 2

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outstanding

Inspectors spent time with all the children, including having individual discussions and participating in children’s group activities. Children’s experiences are consistently positive due to highly effective support they receive from staff and school leaders at the provision.

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outstanding

Children say they greatly enjoy boarding at the school. They want to remain as boarders, and they are taking on more responsibility during their stays. This includes working towards a ‘boarders award’ that is given out each year recognising children’s achievements. This shows that children are invested in the boarding provision and have aspirational goals they would like to achieve.

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outstanding

The boarding houses have recently been refurbished to an excellent standard. Rooms have been tastefully decorated, with large rugs and new pictures on the walls, making the provision more homely. Rooms have also been repurposed. One room has a large TV for cinema nights. This high-quality living environment helps children to feel valued.

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outstanding

School leaders and staff adopt a holistic approach to reviewing, analysing, monitoring and supporting children’s development. Staff demonstrate progress effectively through data that captures children’s academic, social and emotional growth. This highlights that children make significant progress from their starting points. Children who stay in boarding are more likely to achieve the educational and social objectives set out in their plans than those who do not.

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outstanding

Staff support children to use devices in a healthy way, setting time limits for their use and offering alternative entertainment. Staff’s creativity is evident in the range of other activities provided, such as hosting documentary screenings and facilitating discussions on real-life topics. This helps children to connect with and learn about the world around them.

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outstanding

Staff help children to build their independent living skills. Children are taught skills that help to prepare them for adult life. They have improved their skills in tasks such as preparing food, keeping their rooms tidy and cleaning. Children have also been learning outdoor skills such as building a fire and a shelter, and outdoor survival. These skills help them to grow into well-rounded adults.

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outstanding

Children are safe, nurtured and respected. They are given time to share their views, and they can do this in an environment where they feel listened to and valued. Children have matured physically and emotionally. As a result of staff’s support, children who were previously not confident in group situations are now confident in groups and are more connected with other children. Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 3 Staff make sure children are active. Children enjoy trips to farms, parks and the cinema, go swimming, to the gym and on holidays. This helps to improve their health and well-being. Staff also help children to celebrate cultural and annual events, increasing their social awareness and sense of community.

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outstanding

Parents gave excellent feedback. One parent said, ‘They are easily the best residential placement. I am really happy that my child is there.’ Another parent said, ‘They are doing an absolutely great job. You couldn’t find anywhere better.’

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outstanding

Staff and school leaders maintain highly effective communication with outside agencies. Children are offered support and intervention when they display behaviour of concern, and the leaders make sure information is shared. They robustly challenge other professionals to make sure children receive the best support possible.

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outstanding

When children are in crisis, leaders and staff go above and beyond to keep them safe. They work with families to keep children safe and offer support and guidance when families are struggling at home. This extends to supporting children across the summer break.

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outstanding

There have been no incidents that have required the use of physical intervention. Staff understand how to connect and communicate with children. This means incidents are often prevented. Staff demonstrate excellent practice by recognising and responding when children become agitated.

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outstanding

Staff receive high-quality training in effective safeguarding practice. They are aware of procedures and how to raise concerns. New staff receive informative training and are able to articulate how they would deal with emerging safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding is dealt with very promptly, offering a high level of support to children and their families.

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outstanding

Children do not go missing from the boarding provision. Children choose to stay and are heavily invested in the setting. They say they are safe and have positive relationships with staff and their peers. This was also observed during the inspection.

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outstanding

Parents say their children are kept safe and secure, which gives them peace of mind when their children come to stay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

School leaders such as the headteacher and the head of care prioritise the needs of the children above all else and strongly advocate for their safety and well-being. Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 4 School leaders have a clear understanding of the progress children are making. They implement bespoke programmes and strategies to boost children’s independence and self-esteem.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

School leaders and managers are inspirational. They have created an open and transparent culture. School leaders are tenacious and regularly challenge others when they have concerns for children’s welfare. If it is felt agencies have not fulfilled their duties, school leaders call meetings with the wider network to look at lessons learned and to hold people to account.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders ensure staff are equipped to deal with conflict effectively. They deliver regular training to ensure staff are up to date with their knowledge. They proactively encourage continued professional development. They place staff on required diplomas very early in their employment, encouraging them to achieve the educational qualification alongside building practical experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel confident and well supported. They say they feel happy and settled and are confident to speak out if they have concerns, stating they would go to the governors or Ofsted if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers regularly review and analyse how the provision is performing. They create targeted development plans. They make sure staff are clear on their roles and responsibilities to uphold the highest level of care to the children who board.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders work closely with families and others to maintain excellent levels of communication. Staff have regular check-ins with parents to update them on the weekly progress of their child. Parents say their children are happy and school leaders and staff go above and beyond to help each child make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are held regularly. Whistle-blowing is a running agenda item, and safeguarding scenarios are role-played, to continue to upskill the team. Staff receive regular and effective supervision and appraisal. Staff say they have never had support like it. They feel valued for their contribution, and this positively impacts their day-to-day practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals is incredibly positive. One social worker said, ‘Leaders are always positive and great at communicating. They are also proactive in their approach to ensure children are well cared for.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No unmet standards or points for improvement were issued during this inspection. Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have 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 Children Act 1989, 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 national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC018026

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Antony Clements

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential special school

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Residential special school details

Telephone number: 01277 624580/07710 372150

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Inspectors

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Ramsden Hall Academy 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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