Educ8 Liverpool

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Educ8 Liverpool Elm Road, Seaforth, Liverpool Merseyside L21 3TG

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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), 32(1)(c)  When the school received its standard inspection in May 2025, these standards were found to be unmet. The proprietor had not taken sufficient account of relevant statutory guidance and had delegated safeguarding responsibilities to other agencies. The inspector found that weaknesses in the school’s record-keeping prevented leaders from connecting vital pieces of information about pupils’ welfare. This limited the school’s ability to take the right actions in order to keep pupils safe from harm.  In the school’s action plan, evaluated in July 2025, the school stated its intention to provide training for a designated safeguarding lead and to consult with the local authority to explore the availability of external support. It proposed to implement a management information system to record concerns. However, the plan lacked detail about how these

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Main inspection findings

actions would be implemented to ensure a positive impact on pupils. For example, the plan did not detail how staff will be trained to use the management information system or how this would improve safeguarding practices in the school.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the school has implemented a management information system. The proprietor has sought advice from the local authority and has secured external guidance to support this implementation. Leaders and staff have now been provided with training to use this system. The school’s records show that concerns are recorded with a suitable amount of detail. Leaders are using the system to collate a range of information to support effective decision-making. For example, leaders use information about pupils’ attendance to build a more comprehensive picture of the factors impacting upon pupils’ welfare. This is helping the school to protect pupils from harm.

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Main inspection findings

 The school has put in place an appropriate safeguarding policy that follows current statutory guidance. This policy is made available to parents and carers on the school’s website. Paragraphs 11 and 16 to 16(b)  At the last inspection, these standards relating to pupils’ welfare, health and safety were unmet. Inspectors evaluated that the school’s health and safety policy was not implemented effectively. For example, staff did not receive adequate training about safe techniques when using restrictive physical intervention. In addition, the proprietor had not ensured that risk assessments reflected the specific needs and potential hazards of this school. This left pupils potentially vulnerable to avoidable hazards and risks.  In the school’s action plan, the proprietor proposed some appropriate actions to address these unmet standards. For example, it was stated that since the standard inspection, all

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Main inspection findings

staff had received accredited training in safe physical intervention. However, other actions in the plan were vague and did not offer sufficient assurance about how they would lead to the necessary improvements. For example, the proprietor proposed that risk assessments would be reviewed and reassessed and subsequently signed off by an independent consultant. However, the plan did not explain how staff would have the necessary expertise to complete appropriate risk assessments. The action plan did not explain who would be responsible for some actions.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that the proprietor and leaders have now put in place a range of suitable risk assessments. They have ensured that these reflect the specific needs of pupils and potential hazards of the school. For example, due account has been paid to the risk of pupils leaving the premises without permission and

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Main inspection findings

the procedures that should be followed if this occurred. Staff have received training that helps them to implement these risk assessments effectively. Paragraph 13  At the last inspection, it was found that the proprietor had not ensured that the school’s first aid policy was implemented effectively. This was because some staff administering first aid were not appropriately trained to do so.  The school’s action plan set out its intention to identify any gaps in staff’s first aid training. It proposed to ensure that sufficient staff received appropriate first aid training, so that they were qualified to administer and record all first aid procedures. Additionally, the action plan proposed that a member of staff would be designated to lead oversight to ensure that these procedures were maintained and monitored.  At this progress monitoring inspection, it was found that all staff have now received suitable first aid training. First aid records are suitably organised to show the nature,

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Main inspection findings

circumstances and follow-up to the administration of first aid by trained staff. A member of staff has been designated to monitor the correct implementation and maintenance of these procedures. These changes are relatively recent. However, if implemented consistently and correctly over time, they are likely to support the school in ensuring that this standard is met. Paragraph 15  At the time of the standard inspection in May 2025, the school’s recording of pupils’ daily attendance did not follow current statutory guidance. Additionally, the school’s admissions register was incomplete and did not accurately reflect the number of pupils on roll. This put pupils at potential risk of harm.  In the school’s action plan, the proprietor proposed a range of actions to address these concerns. For example, the plan set out the proprietor’s intention to carry out a full audit and update of the admissions register, and to introduce weekly cross-reference checks

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Main inspection findings

with the attendance register. Moreover, the action plan explained the school’s intention to train staff to use the correct statutory codes for absences, and its intention to implement a new management information system to replace manual registers and strengthen record-keeping.  At this progress monitoring inspection, the admissions register was found to contain all relevant and required information in line with the current statutory guidance. Staff have received training in the use of the correct codes for attendance and absence. This is reflected in the attendance registers, which are completed correctly. The proprietor has ensured that a member of staff now has delegated responsibility for attendance. The school has established effective working relationships with the attendance team at the local authority to ensure that responses to any absences are prompt and appropriate.  The school now meets the independent school standards (the standards) in these parts.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1), 34(1)(a) to 34(1)(c)  When the school received its standard inspection, the standards in part 8 were unmet. Inspectors found that the proprietor and school leaders lacked the knowledge and understanding needed to ensure that the school met all of the standards securely and consistently. Consequently, a number of standards were not met. These weaknesses put pupils’ well-being and safety at serious risk.  In its action plan, evaluated in July 2025, the school proposed some appropriate actions to address some unmet standards. For example, the school proposed delivery of safeguarding training for governors, and the development of a compliance ‘dashboard’ to monitor progress and key risks. It proposed suitable steps to improve the maintenance of compliant admissions and attendance registers. However, other proposals in the action

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Main inspection findings

plan did not provide sufficient assurance that actions would be implemented swiftly enough to ensure compliance with the standards. For instance, timescales for the recruitment of external expertise were unclear. Nor did the action plan explain how leaders at all levels would be supported to gain the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that the school would consistently comply with the standards.  At this progress monitoring inspection, evidence showed that with the support, advice and guidance of external advisers, the proprietor and leaders have taken appropriate action to meet most of the standards that were checked. For example, weaknesses in the maintenance of admissions and attendance registers have now been addressed successfully. Staff have now received training to enable them to administer and record first aid appropriately. These improvements are welcome. However, the proprietor and

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Main inspection findings

leaders remain over-reliant upon the expertise and support provided by its external advisers. Without this support and expertise, leaders lack the capacity to embed and to build further upon these improvements. This is likely to jeopardise the extent to which the standards remain met, consistently and securely, over time.  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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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) £19,500 to £45,000

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School details

Email address neil.prince@educ8group.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 20 to 22 May 2025

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Information about this school

 The school caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are at risk of permanent exclusion from mainstream schools and those who have struggled to engage with education for other reasons. Most pupils at the school have social, emotional and mental health needs. A large proportion have an education, health and care plan.  Pupils join the school throughout the year and stay for varying periods of time. A number of pupils are dual registered with their mainstream school. Others are on single- registration placements, which are commissioned by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.  The school operates from premises formerly known as the Star of the Sea Social Club, located at Elm Road, Seaforth, Liverpool, Merseyside L21 3TG. It is registered to admit up to 40 pupils.  The proprietor is Educ8 Liverpool Limited. The directors of this company comprise the school’s executive board. The school is part of the Educ8 group, which operates two other

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Information about this school

schools and two unregistered alternative provision settings in addition to this one.  The school uses one unregistered 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.  The school received a standard inspection in May 2025, when it was judged not to comply with the standards.  Following its standard inspection, the Department for Education (DfE) required the school to produce a statutory action plan. The action plan was evaluated in July 2025. It was not accepted by the DfE.  This was the school’s first progress monitoring inspection. It was conducted without notice.  The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body, members of the executive board and school leaders. The inspector also spoke to some pupils and to some staff. She also reviewed a range of documentation and spoke on the telephone to representatives of

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Inspection team

Mavis Smith, 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 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.

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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 – 7b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.  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.  13. The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that first aid is administered in a timely and competent manner by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written first aid policy.  15. The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that an admission and attendance register is maintained in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.  16. The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that—

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Part 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

– 16(a) the welfare of pupils at the school is safeguarded and promoted by the drawing up and effective implementation of a written risk assessment policy; and – 16(b) appropriate action is taken to reduce risks that are identified. 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 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3: Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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