Kings Park School

Kings Park School Field View, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN23 3NZ

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information 7(a), 7(b), 32(1)(c)  Since the pre-registration inspection, a designated safeguarding lead has been appointed. Leaders have a clear oversight of safeguarding. The school has recently appointed an independent governing body and a new governor with responsibility for safeguarding. This has strengthened the systems for monitoring and checking. The school has published its safeguarding and whistleblowing policies on its website. These policies are in line with statutory guidance.  The school has acted swiftly to address the findings of a local authority visit this term, which focused on the school’s safeguarding arrangements. Leaders have implemented further training for staff. They ensure that staff understand the school’s procedures for raising safeguarding concerns as well as how and when to access the school’s whistleblowing policy. As a result, staff have a robust understanding of these

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Main inspection findings

procedures and why they are important. They feel confident to raise concerns using the school’s whistleblowing policy if this should become necessary.  The school is working with external agencies to provide leaders with greater assurance in relation to their safeguarding procedures. They recently commissioned an external safeguarding audit to further validate their safeguarding practice. This inspection did not identify any concerns with the school’s current culture for safeguarding.  Safeguarding records are detailed and demonstrate that staff understand the importance of raising concerns. These records show that leaders take appropriate actions to follow up safeguarding concerns and provide timely support to pupils.  The independent school standards (the standards) checked in this part are met.

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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), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(4), 21(5) to 21(6), 21(7)(a) to 21(7)(b)  The proprietor ensures that all staff are recruited safely in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance and the school’s policies. All required pre- employment checks are completed. These checks are carried out appropriately. The school maintains a single central record (SCR) that includes all statutory information about recruitment of staff.  The school has recently moved to a new electronic system for recording the required information on the SCR. This is well maintained and adheres to statutory guidance.  The proprietor has ensured that suitable references have been obtained for all staff members.  The standards checked in this part are met.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1)(a), 34(1)(b), 34(1)(c) (b)  Since the pre-registration inspection, there has been a change in the school leadership. The proprietor has ensured that the leaders in post have the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfil their responsibilities effectively.  Leaders have acted effectively to improve their oversight of safeguarding. Clear systems are in place. Safer recruitment procedures have been reviewed and strengthened. These revised approaches support leaders to maintain an accurate overview of safeguarding. Leaders ensure that the independent school standards are met.  Leaders have acted promptly to improve weaknesses identified by the local authority during their visit to the school. The proprietor has ensured that the standards checked during this inspection are met and pupils’ wellbeing is actively promoted. The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Main inspection findings

 There is a newly formed governing body, who provide independent oversight of the school. This has strengthened the capacity of leadership within the school. The new safeguarding governor has the knowledge and expertise to undertake the role effectively.  The standards in this part are met.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school meets 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. 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

School status Independent special school

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School details

Email address office@kingsparkschool.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this school

 All pupils have an education, health and care plan. They are referred to the school by their local authority, which funds their place.  The school operates from one site in Ashford, Kent.  Since the school’s pre-registration inspection, there has been a change in headteacher and many of the staff have been appointed since then. The headteacher commenced the role in June 2025.  The school’s pre-registration inspection took place in February 2025.

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Information about this inspection

 This was an emergency inspection carried out under section 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The inspection was commissioned by the DfE as a result of concerns it received about the school. It was conducted without notice.  The inspection team checked the school’s compliance with the standards relating to safeguarding and welfare arrangements; safer recruitment and the single central record; complaints management and the effectiveness of leadership and governance.  Not all the standards and associated requirements were checked during this inspection.  Inspections are a point-in-time evaluation about the quality of a school’s education provision.  Inspectors met with the chair of the proprietor body, the headteacher and other leaders. The lead inspector also spoke to governor with specific oversight for safeguarding. Inspectors also spoke to staff and pupils throughout the inspection.

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Information about this inspection

 To evaluate the effectiveness of safeguarding, inspectors: reviewed the single central record; took account of the views of leaders, staff and pupils; and considered the extent to which the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils’ interests first.

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Inspection team

Sara Staggs, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Clive Dunn 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

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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