Little Acorns School

School material change inspection report

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Little Acorns School London Beach Farm, Ashford Road, St Michael’s, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6SR

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 1 to 2(2)(b), 22(d) to2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(h) to 4  The school currently provides education for pupils in the age range five to 15. The proprietor’s application for material changes includes increasing the number of pupils, extending the age range to 16, and introducing a secondary education offer with qualifications and accreditations. These may include GCSEs and awards for personal development.  The proposed curriculum includes separate subjects which match the breadth and ambition of the national curriculum. The content is appropriate for the increased age range of the pupils that the school proposes to admit.  The proposed accreditations include entry level certificates and awards in subjects such as personal growth and well-being, home cooking, construction, music, hospitality and animal care.  An appropriate curriculum policy is in place. The school has developed schemes of

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Main inspection findings

work to include the proposed curriculum developments.  The school provides effective preparation of pupils for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life in British society. This helps pupils to uphold fundamental British values.  The proprietor body has established a team of teachers with appropriate knowledge and subject expertise. The proprietor body supports the school with continuing professional development and training opportunities.  Teachers use resources and teaching strategies which support the specific needs of individual pupils well. This helps pupils to acquire speaking, listening, literacy and mathematics skills.  A suitable programme is in place to assess pupils’ achievement and progress.  Pupils study an appropriate personal, social, health and economic education programme.  The school’s approach to careers guidance helps pupils in secondary education to make informed choices about a broad range of career options.

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Main inspection findings

 The school ensures that pupils study an appropriate curriculum for relationships and sex education. Leaders have developed plans to extend this provision further for older pupils to build on content in an age-appropriate way.  The school ensures that classrooms are well equipped and effective for learning.  Staff use a suitable range of strategies to encourage positive behaviour.  The proposed provision is likely to continue to meet the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), in particular pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs.  The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to approve implementation of the material changes. Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraphs 5 to 5(d)(iii)  The school prioritises pupils’ personal development through curriculum content and

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Main inspection findings

extracurricular opportunities. These include sports activities and trips to build further on pupils’ talents and interests.  The school proposes to introduce a range of qualifications and accreditations to celebrate pupils’ academic and personal achievements. This will enhance the offer for older pupils by giving them more opportunities at age 16. New opportunities include awards in areas such as catering, animal care and creative arts.  The school’s ‘GROWTH’ programme is designed to nurture pupils’ values. Alongside this, the proposed qualifications include a focus on building resilience and learning leadership skills.  Curriculum plans include books and projects promoting gender equality, perseverance, resilience, belonging and kindness.  Appropriate arrangements are in place to promote pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values.  Pupils learn to respect and celebrate the diversity of different cultures and traditions.

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Main inspection findings

 Many pupils have had negative experiences in previous settings. Many have been out of education for considerable periods of time before coming to the school. The school takes these experiences into account in its work to support pupils’ personal development. The school encourages pupils to develop their self-esteem and self- confidence.  Leaders ensure that there is no promotion of partisan political views in the teaching of any subject in the school.  The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 9, 11, 12, 14, 16 to 16(b) and 32(1)(c)  Leaders have robust systems in place to promote the well-being of pupils.  Staff understand the needs of pupils and have plans in place to support behaviour management. Policies and routines to support pupils’ behaviour are sufficient.

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Main inspection findings

 The written behaviour policy is up to date and appropriate, clearly setting expectations which staff and pupils know and understand.  The school has reviewed its approach to restrictive physical intervention to ensure that all staff are trained in a specific approach based on calming pupils and avoiding physical contact until necessary.  The school works with external agencies to access expert support for managing pupils’ behaviour.  The proprietor ensures that the welfare, health and safety of pupils is paramount, with ongoing training and regularly reviewed risk assessments.  Safeguarding practice is effective. Leaders ensure that all staff are trained to identify and report any concerns about pupils’ safeguarding. Leaders follow up concerns with diligence, ensuring a transparent and open culture. Leaders know to refer concerns about staff to the LADO.  Safeguarding record-keeping shows diligence and tenacity to help keep pupils safe.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders have considered the potential challenges of the proposed material changes. They have put sensible measures in place to strengthen supervision. The headteacher will be based in the same building as the new classrooms to ensure close oversight and support.  The proprietor body ensures that the school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The fire safety risk assessment and evacuation plan have been updated to include the new premises. Fire extinguishers are accessible and well maintained. Fire exits are clearly marked, and emergency lighting has been updated across the site. The proprietor body regularly tests systems across the existing and newly converted buildings.  The proprietor body ensures that the school complies with health and safety laws. Health and safety policies and procedures prioritise safety for pupils and staff across the school site.  The school publishes an up-to-date child protection and safeguarding policy on its

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Main inspection findings

website. Staff know, understand and follow this policy.  The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2)–18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2)–19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6)–21(3)(b), 21(5)– 21(6)  Leaders have ensured that all the required recruitment and safety checks are made on staff, governors, supply staff and volunteers. These are recorded on the well- maintained single central record. Appropriate checks and risk assessments are put in place for any visitors to the site.  If the school employs supply staff, they are subjected to the same robust checks and systems before they can work at the school.  All necessary checks have been made relating to the proprietor body.  Senior staff involved in the recruitment process are appropriately trained in safer

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Main inspection findings

recruitment practices.  The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes. Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraph 23(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) to 29(1)(b)  To accommodate the additional pupils, the proprietor has converted a recently closed residential building on the school site. Rooms have been equipped with learning resources. They are accessible, well designed and appropriate for education.  The school’s registered capacity is for 27 pupils. The proposal to gradually build up to 54 pupils can be accommodated in the current school site, combining existing classrooms with new classrooms in the converted residential building space.  Current and proposed classrooms are suitably lit and spacious for learning. Acoustic conditions are appropriate for pupils’ needs. There are very few pupils in each class,

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Main inspection findings

with significant space available for each pupil.  The current buildings are equipped with appropriate toilet, shower, drinking water and first aid facilities. New toilets, showers and drinking water have been installed in the new building. Proposed pupils will share the first aid room with existing pupils. This space is well equipped, spacious and led by appropriately trained staff.  The site offers sufficient space for the proposed number of pupils to play outdoors and for physical education. The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  This material change request seeks to expand the school’s good offer in educating pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The proprietor body is ambitious and keen to build on the school’s existing provision.

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Main inspection findings

 The governance structure serves the school effectively. The advisory board provides appropriate support and challenge to ensure the school achieves its strategic aims.  Leaders have thought carefully about the gradual expansion plan. The school is clear that the needs of pupils are at the heart of the process. Consequently, the proprietor body plans to increase pupil numbers steadily over time to the maximum of 70.  The school’s recruitment proposals focus on a further increase to leadership and teaching capacity in line with the staged increase in pupil numbers. This will continue to ensure a high ratio of leaders and teachers to pupils.  The proprietor has ensured that standards are likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve implementation of the material changes.

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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

Proprietor Little Acorns London Beach Farm Ltd

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School details

Email address officelittleacorns@gmail.com

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 7 to 9 November 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 5 to 15 5 to 16 5 to 16

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 27 54 54

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 26 54

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 27 54

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 27 54

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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 27 54

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 9 12

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Information about this school

 This school specialises in working with pupils with social, mental and/or emotional needs between the ages of five and 15 years of age. The majority of pupils have experienced turbulence in their schooling.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan and are placed by local authorities.  The school currently uses one unregistered alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 The inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education to determine if the school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed material changes of increasing the number of pupils to 54 and raising the school age range from 15 years of age to 16 years of age are implemented.  This is the school’s fourth material change inspection and the second since its last standard inspection in November 2023. All of the previous material change inspections were approved for an increase in pupil numbers.  The inspection focused on: the quality of education standards in part 1; the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils in part 2; the welfare, health and safety standards in part 3, including the supervision of pupils and appropriate deployment of staff; all of the standards in part 4 about the suitability of staff; all of the standards in part 5 on premises and accommodation; and the standards in part 8

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Information about this inspection

for the quality of leadership and management of schools.  The lead inspector scrutinised the school’s safeguarding procedures. He considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first. He explored the school’s record-keeping and training procedures. He also scrutinised checks and procedures for the safer recruitment of adults. These requirements of the standards are met.  Inspectors held discussions with the headteacher, executive headteacher, deputy headteacher and staff. The lead inspector met with the chair of governors and the representative of the proprietor body.  Inspectors toured the school premises and spoke to a range of staff. They also looked at relevant documents and policies provided by the school or available via the website.

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Inspection team

Scott Reece, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Gavin Thomas His Majesty’s 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

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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