Wharfedale Montessori School

School progress monitoring inspection report

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Wharfedale Montessori School Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6AN

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Main inspection findings

Part 1. Quality of education provided Paragraphs 3, 3a,3c, 3d, 3g  These standards relating to teaching were met at the previous inspection.  This inspection found that there is a curriculum in place which aligns with the school’s Montessori ethos. In line with these expectations, it enables all pupils to learn and make progress. By the time pupils leave the school they can all read and write.  There is a structured programme for mathematics. Other topics are addressed in line with the requirements of the independent school standards (the standards). This is a mixture of discrete teaching, child-led activity and project-based work.  Teachers use lesson time to ensure that activities are complete. They receive training in how to teach the Montessori curriculum. Newer staff are due to undertake this training.  There is careful tracking and assessment of the progress that each pupil makes. This allows teachers to consider what each individual pupil can do. Pupils’ next steps are

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Main inspection findings

planned and monitored on a weekly basis. This assessment and progress information is available to parents and carers through an online tracking system.  The standards in this part were met at the previous inspection and remain met. Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraph 7, to 7b  At the previous inspection this standard was met. The inspectors identified, however, that safeguarding records and processes needed to be improved.  At the start of this inspection the safeguarding policy had not been updated to reflect the latest guidance from the government, Keeping Children Safe in Education’, (2025). The headteacher and staff confirmed that training had taken place about the updates within this guidance and the headteacher updated the policy during the inspection.  No action has been taken by the proprietor or headteacher to improve the quality of record keeping in relation to safeguarding. It is unclear how leaders will record any

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding concerns or subsequent actions taken should any arise.  Since the previous inspection, there has been a change in the chair of the proprietor body. The Department for Education (DfE) is in the process of carrying out appropriate checks on the person being named as chair. The named chair is now living in the premises with their partner, who is named as a director of Wharfedale Montessori Ltd. Wharfedale Montessori Limited is the proprietor body.  At the time of the inspection, checks made on the chair’s partner had not been returned in full. The remaining members of the proprietor body had not taken appropriate action to mitigate this. For example, the proprietor’s partner had not received any training relating to safeguarding. There were no systems in place to determine how the chair’s partner would leave or enter their home, which is directly through the school.  Recent recruitment files were reviewed. They show that interview questions and

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Main inspection findings

references do not adequately reflect that interviewers had appropriately assessed candidates’ suitability to work with children.  Insufficient staff have had recent safer recruitment training. The one member of staff with the most recent training was not part of the interview processes.  These standards were met at the previous inspection and are now not met. Paragraph 10  At the previous inspection, this standard was not met because there was lack of clarity around the school’s approach to anti-bullying. The school determined that following this inspection an anti-bullying policy would be made available to parents on the school website.  This inspection found that the school has a positive behaviour and anti-bullying policy, but it did not contain information about anti-bullying. The headteacher was able to explain the approach that the school takes to anti-bullying, but this was not clearly set

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Main inspection findings

out in the policy. This was amended by the headteacher, during the inspection, to reflect the school’s approach.  Pupils are confident that bullying does not happen in their school. They have an understanding of what bullying is and who they could tell if it was to happen.  This standard was not met at the last inspection and is now met. Paragraph 13  In the previous inspection, first aid kits were found to contain out-of-date equipment. Leaders were not ensuring that appropriate checks were being carried out on the equipment and recorded.  The proprietor planned to rewrite the first aid policy and make clear the checks that are to be made and who is responsible for carrying them out and acting on the checks.  This inspection found that the first aid policy now contains the necessary information. The contents of the first aid box are within date and appropriate. The responsible person is carrying out a termly check and replacing contents as they are used.

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Main inspection findings

 Leaders are aware that their policy says that checks will be half termly and understand that on-the-ground practice should mirror the policy.  This standard is now met. Paragraph 15  The previous inspection found that admissions and attendance procedures did not follow statutory guidance. The proprietor planned that policies would be updated and register codes would be used in line with guidance from the government.  This inspection showed that attendance guidance is now being followed and that staff have been trained to use the system. Staff are clear about which register code to use. The attendance policy has been updated to reflect this guidance.  An admissions policy has been written which explains how pupils can be admitted to the school. However, the admissions register remains no compliant with The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024. This is because the admissions register does not show where entries have been amended. It does not

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Main inspection findings

ensure that every entry into the school’s admission register is preserved for 6 years, beginning with the day on which the entry was made.  This standard was not met at the previous inspection and remains unmet. Paragraph 16 to 16b  At the previous inspection, the inspectors found that there were no risk assessments in place for the school site and that some were written during the inspection.  Leaders intended to write an appropriate risk assessment policy but were unclear in their action plan about how the policy would be implemented when written. There was no clarity about which risk assessments would be written and by whom.  During this inspection, the new policy was checked and found to be appropriate. It clearly sets out how the risk assessment process is to be carried out. The principal is responsible for the implementation of this policy.  Five risk assessments were sampled during this inspection. These include a risk

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Main inspection findings

assessment for the outdoor area, for equipment in ‘The Cabin’, a school trip, fire safety and a risk assessment for the dog on the premises. They were found to align with the policy and to be appropriate in mitigating risk.  This standard was not met at the previous inspection and is now met. Part 4. Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors Paragraph 18(2) to 18(2)(e), 18(3), 20(6) to 20(6)(c), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(6),  The proprietor has ensured that all relevant pre-employment checks are carried out on staff at the school.  These checks are recorded on a single central record.  The standards in this part were met at the previous inspection and remain met. Part 6. Provision of information Paragraph 32(1)(a), 32(1)(b), 32(1)(c) 32(3), 32(3)(d)  The previous inspection found that some polices were not written and some policies were not made available to parents.  During this inspection, the school website was checked for policies, including the

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Main inspection findings

safeguarding policy, and found that some polices were available to download and others did not download when clicked. The headteacher confirmed that both he and the proprietor had carried out some work on the website to try to address this and were unaware that the links did not work.  There is a statement on the school website that explains to parents and carers how they can access school policies by requesting them directly from school. All policies as required by these standards are now available.  Parents spoken with during the inspection were confident about the information available to them and how to request it from school.  These standards were not met at the previous inspection but are now met. Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraph 34(1) to 34(1)(b)  These standards were judged not to be met at the previous inspection because leaders did not have a secure knowledge of the standards, and the admissions and attendance

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Main inspection findings

registers were not compliant with legal requirements. Inspectors found that there was insufficient oversight of the standards and a lack of strategy as to how they would be met over time.  The proprietor’s action plan made reference to annual checks of the standards and regular staff information exchange meetings. The action plan made reference to statements of intent without information on how this would be checked and quality assured.  This inspection found that leaders still do not have a secure knowledge of the standards and that the admissions register does not meet legal requirements. There were aspects that, until pointed out during this inspection, had not improved, for example the addition of information relating to the anti-bullying policy.  While leaders have taken action to make improvements to meet the standards that they did not meet in the previous inspection, other areas have not had sufficient focus, and

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Main inspection findings

consequently other standards are now not met.  There is no clear plan or system for how leaders will ensure compliance with the standards.  The new named chair and headteacher have allocated time to meet and carry out research to enhance their knowledge of the standards. There is also time to meet with the outgoing chair to share information and experience. They recognise there is much more to do to ensure a full understanding.  These standards were not met at the previous inspection and 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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 10 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that bullying at the school is prevented in so far as reasonably practicable, by the drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying strategy.  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.  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 16(a) arrangements are made to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils at the school; and – 16(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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Part 6. Provision of information

 32(1) 32(1) The standard about the provision of information by the school is met if the proprietor ensures that– – 32(1)(a) the information specified in sub-paragraph (2) is provided to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector[14], the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate[15] – 32(1)(b) the information specified in sub-paragraph (3) is made available to parents of pupils and parents of prospective pupils and, on request, to the Chief Inspector, the Secretary of State or an independent inspectorate  32(3) The information specified in this sub-paragraph is– – 32(3)(d) particulars of arrangements for meeting the standards contained in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 13.

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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

Proprietor Wharfedale Montessori Limited

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School details

Email address secretary@wharfedalemontessori.co.uk

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 4 to 6 March 2025

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Information about this school

 Wharfedale Montessori School offers education for pupils aged 2 to 11 years old. The school opened in June 1992. This is the school’s first progress monitoring inspection since it was judged to require improvement in March 2025.  The school follows the values and principles of the Montessori curriculum.  The school is registered to admit 48 pupils. There are 29 pupils on roll, 5 who are flexi- schooled.  There has been a change in the chair of the proprietor body since the previous inspection. The proprietary body remains as Wharfedale Montessori Limited but the directors within this have changed, including a new director taking on the role of chair. The DfE is currently undertaking the necessary checks for this change.  Pupils aged 2 to 6 years old are taught in the Children’s House. Pupils aged 6 to 11 years old are taught in The Cabin. Both provisions are on the same site.  The school does not use any alternative provision.

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Information about this school

 The school has recently begun to offer flexi-schooling.

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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, as well as consider standards relevant to a complaint.  The previous standard inspection took place in March 2025 when the school was judged to not be meeting some of the independent school standards.  This was the first progress monitoring inspection following the March 2025 inspection.  The DfE required the school to produce an action plan to address the standards that were not met. This action plan was deemed not to be acceptable when it was evaluated by Ofsted in June 2025 and it was rejected by the DfE.  This inspection was conducted without notice.  Inspectors met with the headteacher, the new chair and the outgoing chair and the rest

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Information about this inspection

of the proprietor body. Inspectors visited lessons and talked to pupils. Inspectors scrutinised pupils’ work and the school’s assessment system and records. They spoke with parents and staff. Inspectors also reviewed policies and documents.  The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are not met.

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Inspection team

Debbie Redshaw, lead inspector Ofsted 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 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

 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 2006[13].

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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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Standards that were met at the previous inspection, but are now judged to not be met at this inspection

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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 – 7(b) such arrangements have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State. 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

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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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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils

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