Education-My Life Matters

School material change inspection report

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Education – My Life Matters 108 Conisborough Crescent, Bellingham, Catford, London SE6 2SP

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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), 32(1)(c)  The school’s culture of safeguarding continues to be strong. Leaders take their responsibilities seriously. Arrangements for inducting and training staff, and identifying, referring and documenting concerns and actions taken, are suitable. Leaders and staff work collaboratively with a range of other professionals supporting pupils. The school’s policy, published online, reflects the latest statutory guidance. Paragraphs 11, 12, 14 and 16 to 16(b)  Pupils are closely supervised throughout the school day. This will continue to be the case for the new group of pupils at the proposed additional premises, for which an additional full-time teacher will be employed.  The school’s suitable health and safety and risk assessment policies are implemented well. The premises are clean and well maintained. The school is compliant with the

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Main inspection findings

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It has suitable plans to ensure the additional premises are also as safe as possible. Risk assessments of the current and additional premises suitably consider the possible risks and ways to mitigate them.  These independent school standards (the standards) are met and likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(1), 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 21(1), 21(2), 21(3) to 21(3)(b) and 21(5) to 21(5)(c)  The school’s safer-recruitment process reflects statutory guidance. All the required checks on the proprietor, governors and employed and agency staff are recorded with dates as required on the school’s single central record.  These standards are met and likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(b), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25, 26, 27 to 27(b), 28(1) to 28(1)(d), 28(2) to 28(2)(b) and 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  At the school’s main premises at 108 Conisborough Crescent in Bellingham, there are two large floors, which comprise a number of open-plan learning areas. There is an outdoor courtyard for play, toilet and washing facilities and a suitable medical room facility. The arrangements for lighting, acoustics and water supplies are compliant with the requirements. Pupils have access to changing and shower facilities, when they attend local leisure facilities for physical education.  The school’s proposed additional premises at Langthorn Hall in Bromley comprise an open-plan classroom space, a small kitchen and a reception space. The available toilet facility will be for pupils’ use; staff will use an allocated facility nearby. Leaders have

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Main inspection findings

suitably planned to set up a space that will function as an equipped medical room. It will provide a private space for sick and injured pupils to sit and lie down, with access to a washing facility. The arrangements for lighting and acoustics are likely to be suitable. Drinking and hot water supplies are also likely to be compliant with the requirements. Pupils will again have access to changing and shower facilities when they attend local leisure facilities for physical education. Pupils will walk to nearby parks and a public sports facility for outdoor recreation. These premises are likely to comfortably accommodate up to 10 pupils.  These standards are met and likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The proprietor, governors and school leaders have prepared well to extend the school’s capacity. They demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the standards and continue to actively promote pupils’ well-being.  This standard is met and likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved and implemented.

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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) £19,000 to £57,000

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 30 April to 2 May 2024

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 No change Not applicable

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 17 Up to 30 Up to 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 17 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 17 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 16 30

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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 16 30

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 0 1

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Information about this school

 EMLM is an independent school providing an alternative education to pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs and other special educational needs and/or disabilities. Almost all pupils have an education, health and care plan or are under assessment for one.  The school’s main premises are at 108 Conisborough Crescent, Bellingham, Catford, London SE6 2SP. The school intends to begin using additional premises from November 2025 at Langthorn Hall, Langthorne Court, Bromley Road, Bromley SE6 2QT. The school has ceased using an additional premises at Geffery’s Hall, 27 Nunnington Close, Mottingham SE9 4TA.  At the time of this inspection, the school makes no use of alternative provision. However, the school sometimes makes use of two alternative providers.  The school’s last inspection was a standard inspection in May 2024, which judged all the independent school standards as met.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to consider the school’s application to make a material change to its registration agreement. The application was to increase the school’s maximum capacity from 20 to 30 pupils.  The inspection was announced with two days of notice and was the first inspection to consider the school’s material change application.  Inspectors considered whether relevant requirements in Parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the independent school standards are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.  Inspectors met with the proprietor, the headteacher and the assistant headteacher. They considered a range of evidence, including policies, safety records and risk assessments. They met with a group of pupils and walked around both the main and proposed additional premises. The inspector spoke by telephone with a senior representative from a placing local authority. Inspectors also met with the designated

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Information about this inspection

safeguarding lead and reviewed the school’s single central record of pre-employment vetting checks.

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Inspection team

James Waite, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection team

Gary Pocock Ofsted 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

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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Inspection team

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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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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