High Trees

School pre-registration inspection report

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High Trees 85 Great Portland Street, First Floor, London W1W 7LT

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 2(1) to 2(2)(b), 2(d) to 2(2)(e)(iii), 2(2)(g) to 2(A)(1), 2(A)(1)(b) to 2(A)(2)  The proposed school intends to cater for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It is likely that pupils will have an education, health and care (EHC) plan linked to their social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. All pupils will be looked-after children. The school expects that pupils will typically have experienced disruption to their education previously.  There is a suitable curriculum policy in place that is accompanied by appropriate schemes of work. The curriculum is aligned to relevant qualifications, such as vocational qualifications, functional skills and ASDAN and AQA awards. This should provide pupils with a broad curriculum that prepares them for their next steps in education, training or employment.  Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is part of the core curriculum

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Main inspection findings

offer. This will include the teaching of relationships and sex education (RSE). Both the PSHE and RSE curriculum follow a commercial scheme. There is an appropriate policy that reflects the curriculum offer. Staff intend to adapt these curriculums using their checks on pupils’ learning and knowledge of pupils’ needs. This is so they can ensure pupils secure the important knowledge they need.  The proposed school has a careers programme that begins in Year 7. It plans to work in partnership with the virtual schools to support pupils with impartial careers guidance.  The proposed school plans to only have students on roll in Year 12 in very rare circumstances. This will most likely be where these students need more time to complete their qualifications. There has been appropriate thought put into the programme of activities these students will experience. Paragraph 3 to 3(j)  Staff have experience in teaching pupils with SEND. Leaders have trained staff in

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Main inspection findings

effective strategies to meet pupils’ specific needs. Leaders intend to provide regular and ongoing training to ensure staff teach the curriculum effectively.  The proposed school plans to match curriculum content to pupils’ interests and future aspirations. An important focus for staff will be developing pupils’ resilience and confidence.  Classroom resources have been purchased to support with teaching different subjects. For example, art resources are readily available within the classroom. The proposed school intends to purchase a range of reading books to support with the weekly book club sessions it plans to run.  There has been appropriate consideration for how staff will adapt the planned curriculum to pupils’ individual needs and prior knowledge. The proposed school understands the importance of ensuring staff support pupils to meet specific targets set out in their EHC plans.  The curriculum includes the appropriate teaching of fundamental British values.

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Main inspection findings

Paragraph 4  The school’s intention is to accurately identify pupils’ attainment and knowledge across the curriculum as part of the induction process when pupils start at the school. This is to enable staff to identify where there are gaps in pupils’ knowledge that need to be addressed. This includes identifying any gaps in pupils’ reading knowledge. Staff have plans to identify any pupil at the early stages of reading and provide focused reading sessions to help close these gaps.  The proposed school plans to use a range of strategies to check on how well pupils progress through the curriculum so staff can adapt their teaching appropriately.  The independent school standards (the standards), in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 2. Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils Paragraph 5 to 5(d)(iii)  The proposed school has identified how the curriculum and wider enrichment offer will support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The assembly timetable includes learning about different people of the world, for example.  The PSHE curriculum includes opportunities for pupils to learn about rights, responsibilities and the rule of law.  A focus of the enrichment offer will be for pupils to be active and responsible in the local and wider community. As part of this, the school plans to have pupils identify and fundraise for a local charity each academic year.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7 to 7(b)  The proprietor body understands the need to ensure policies and practice are reviewed and updated when statutory guidance and legislation is updated. It has ensured that policies related to safeguarding have due regard for ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ statutory guidance.  Staff responsible for managing safeguarding are appropriately trained in safer recruitment and as designated safeguarding leads.  There is a clear system for ensuring staff have the knowledge they need to identify when a pupil may be at risk of harm.  The curriculum provides opportunities for pupils to learn essential knowledge to help keep them safe.  The proposed school plans to use alternative provision if this is appropriate to pupils’ needs and interests. Staff understand what checks they need to carry out on the alternative providers they use. Paragraphs 9 and 10

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Main inspection findings

 Behaviour and anti-bullying policies reflect the therapeutic approaches the proposed school intends to use. There is a structured staff training programme to ensure staff have the required knowledge to implement these policies effectively.  Leaders understand how to monitor and analyse patterns of behaviour. This includes should any physical intervention be needed. Paragraphs 11 to 16(b)  There are suitable health and safety policies in place. Ongoing checks of the site enable staff to identify where there may be issues that need to be remedied. The maintenance team are swift to sort these.  There is an appropriate fire risk assessment in place. Where action has been needed, this has been taken. There are clear systems for the checking of fire equipment, such as testing alarms. Fire exits are clearly labelled and evacuation procedures have been established.  All staff will be first-aid trained. There is an electronic recording system in place to

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Main inspection findings

record any first aid administered.  The proprietor has appointed two members of staff. It intends to appoint an additional member of staff to support with teaching and provide appropriate supervision of pupils.  The admissions register records the required information. The proposed school has suitable procedures for recording attendance accurately.  Risk assessments are appropriate. They identify the potential risk, the severity of this risk and the mitigating actions to take to reduce risk. The proposed school plans to create individual pupil risk assessments when pupils join the school.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraphs 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 19(2) to 19(2)(d)(ii), 19(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(5) to 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c), 21(6)  The proposed school has completed the required pre-employment checks on staff they have already appointed. These are recorded accurately on the singe central record.  Those responsible for completing pre-employment checks understand which checks need to be completed depending on the role of the member of staff.  The proposed school has no plans to use supply staff. Should it ever need to, staff know what checks they need to carry out.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2) to 29(1)(b)  The classroom space is set within residential accommodation. It is an appropriate size for the number of pupils when at capacity. This room includes access to drinking water, which is clearly labelled. There is a separate room that can be used for small intervention sessions should this be needed.  There are dedicated toilet and washing facilities. These are suitable for the proposed age-range of pupils. The temperature of water is appropriate.  Spaces within the school are well lit and suitably ventilated. The acoustics should be appropriate and conducive to learning.  The designated medical room is appropriate. It contains adequate first-aid supplies, a sink and a collapsable bed.  The proposed school does not intend to use space within the residential accommodation apart from during pupils’ social times.

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Main inspection findings

 Some activities will be run off site. This includes physical education, which will be timetabled at a local leisure centre and food technology at a kitchen in a local school.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 32(1) to 32(1)(d), 32(1)(f) to 32(2)(b), 32(2)(b)(ii) to 32(3)(g)  The proprietor’s company website provides some key information related to the proposed school. This includes contact details for the headteacher and proprietor. There are clear systems in place for sharing the required policies and procedures with parents and carers.  The proposed school has suitable systems to share information about looked-after children and pupils with an EHC plan with local authorities.  The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled Paragraph 33 to 33(k)  The proposed school’s complaints policy sets out appropriate procedures to manage complaints. This includes clear timeframes. The school plans to keep all records related to complaints electronically.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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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 has two directors. Both have accessed training to improve their own knowledge in education. They have a suitable understanding of what is required to ensure the school is likely to meet the independent school standards. They understand the importance of continuing to develop their knowledge and expertise should the school be registered.  The headteacher has established a programme for checking important aspects of the work of the school. Leaders plan to use these checks to inform future school development priorities.  The proprietor has established a governing body to monitor the work of the school and hold leaders to account. It has identified a structure and schedule for how governing body meetings will be run. Within the governing body, governors have experience of working in education, including in governance. This should enable the

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Main inspection findings

proprietor to hold leaders effectively to account for the quality of the education and provision on offer.  Leaders have clear processes in place for managing referrals and admissions to the school carefully. They understand the importance of working with local authorities and virtual schools to ensure the school can meet the specific needs of pupils with SEND.  The proprietor body has sought the support of an external consultant with experience of working in similar schools. They plan to continue to use external help to support them to accurately quality assure and check on the impact of the school’s work to support pupils.  The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor body has ensured that a suitable accessibility plan and equalities policy are in place.  The proposed school is likely to fulfil its duty under schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 should it open.

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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.

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Proposed school details

This inspection was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the purpose of which is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Proposed school details

Type of school Other independent special school

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Proposed school details

School status Independent special school

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Proposed school details

Annual fees (day pupils) £70,000 to £90,000

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Proposed school details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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recommendation

Age range of pupils Not applicable 11 to 17 11 to 17 Number of pupils on the school roll Not applicable 4 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Gender of pupils Not applicable Mixed Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age Not applicable 4 Number of part-time pupils Not applicable 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities Not applicable 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan Not applicable 4

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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 Not applicable 4

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 2 2

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff Not applicable 1

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of staff in the welfare provision Not applicable As required

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Information about this proposed school

 The proprietor is SV Education Limited. The proprietor has established a governing body to monitor the performance of the school.  It is proposed that the school will provide full-time education for up to four pupils, aged between eleven and seventeen years. The school only plans to have pupils on roll past key stage 4 to complete qualifications should they need to.  The proposed school will cater for pupils with SEND. All pupils will have SEMH needs. It is anticipated that most pupils will have an EHC plan.  The school is situated in a residential setting that has two storeys.  The school intends to use alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE) to determine if the school is likely to meet the standards if the DfE registers the school.  This was the school’s second pre-registration inspection.  The proposed school is not yet operating.  The inspector met with the two representatives of the proprietor body, the chair of the governing body, the headteacher, the deputy manager and some central staff from SV Care. The inspector toured the premises, scrutinised the single central record and reviewed safeguarding arrangements.  The inspector reviewed a range of documentation, including curriculum plans, documentation related to SEND, policies, health and safety checks, risk assessments and other information related to the proposed school.

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Inspection team

Michael Williams, lead inspector 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

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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