The Write Time

School material change inspection report

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The Write Time Warrington Road, Opposite Ludford Close, Croydon, London CR0 4BH

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Part 6. Provision of information Paragraphs 7 to 7(b), 11, 12, 14, 16 to 16(b), 32(1)(c)  The school has in place robust procedures to identify, report and record concerns about pupils’ welfare. Staff receive regular and pertinent safeguarding training, including on their statutory duties and the school’s contextual needs.  The proprietor, governors and school leaders regularly review safeguarding practices and procedures. They invest in visits from external safeguarding specialists to further assure themselves of the quality and robustness of the school’s safeguarding arrangements.  The school’s safeguarding policy is published on the school’s website for parents and carers to access. It reflects the latest guidance.  The school’s risk assessment and health and safety policies are published on the school’s website. Some aspects of the policies are implemented well. For example,

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Main inspection findings

there are suitable risk assessments for some specialist classroom spaces. They are used to identify and mitigate hazards to staff and pupils. However, some risks identified by external auditors as needing urgent attention have not been remedied or managed by leaders.  The proprietor has in place a fire risk assessment, which has been undertaken by an external risk assessor. The risk assessment takes into consideration the Regulatory Fire Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However, inspectors were not assured that fire safety procedures and risk management were enacted sufficiently well, particularly in the additional space the school intends to use such as locked fire doors and the absence of smoke detectors in stairwells.  School leaders have carefully considered the need to increase the number of staff in line with the increase in pupils. They have a suitable plan in place, which gives assurances that pupils’ supervision will likely be suitable.

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Main inspection findings

 Based on the evidence gathered during this inspection, the independent school standards (the standards) in this part are unlikely to be met if the Department for Education (DFE) decides to approve the implementation of the material change.

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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), 21(1) to 21(3)(b), 21(5) to 21(5)(a)(ii), 21(5)(c), 21(6)  The school’s single central record is compliant with statutory requirements. It contains the right information and is comprehensively maintained. It accurately records all the required pre-employment checks on the proprietor, governors and staff.  The school has a recruitment plan to appoint additional teaching and support staff. The proprietor, governors and business manager work closely with school-based leaders to ensure statutory requirements for recruitment are routinely met.  On occasions, the school utilises agency teachers and other staff. Those responsible for acquiring such services know the checks they need to make in line with requirements.  The proprietor has ensured that these standards are likely to be met by the school if

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Main inspection findings

the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools Paragraphs 23(1) to 23(1)(c), 24(1) to 24(1)(b), 24(2), 25 to 28(2)(b), 29(1) to 29(1)(b)  This school is situated on the site of a former maintained school. It currently occupies about a quarter of the rooms available. The unused rooms are not accessible to pupils. Some of the unused rooms are used by the school for storage. The proprietor has recently acquired the use of some additional spaces within the site, for example previously unused rooms, and has recommissioned them to a high standard. The school has the available teaching space to accommodate up to 80 pupils. This includes newly recommissioned classrooms and therapy spaces. There is ample outdoor space, which can be used for pupils to play, socialise and learn.  Classrooms and other learning spaces have suitable ventilation, lighting and acoustics. Newly refurbished rooms such as the independent living classroom are well resourced

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Main inspection findings

and conducive to learning.  There are enough toilets and washing facilities to support an increase in numbers. Toilets can be locked from the inside as necessary to meet the related requirements. However, the washing facilities in the newly acquired bathrooms do not have an adequate supply of hot water.  The school has a suitable medical room. It is on the ground floor, has washing facilities and a toilet nearby. Drinking water is available and is labelled as such.  During the inspection, the inspectors identified some health and safety concerns. Some of these were negated during the inspection. However, some need more time to be addressed competently. For example, there are broken sockets and protruding pipes.  Based on the evidence gathered during this inspection, the standards in this part are unlikely to be met if the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change.

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Main inspection findings

Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools Paragraphs 34(1) to 34(1)(c)  The school’s professional development programme will continue to be used to ensure that any new staff have a clear understanding of how to support health and safety. This includes understanding pupils’ behaviours that may challenge and how to manage them effectively.  Induction arrangements for new staff are extensive. Staff follow a training programme when they join the school, which includes the school’s teaching and learning practices, safeguarding, fire safety and risk assessments. The school intends to use this same process for recruiting any new staff if the material change is approved.  The proprietor and other leaders utilise the governing body and external professionals to quality assure provision and complete audits such as health and safety and safeguarding to provide clarity and develop action plans if necessary. However,

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Main inspection findings

leaders, including the proprietor, do not routinely act swiftly to address all issues identified. As a result, there are some standards which may not be consistently met.  Based on the evidence gathered during this inspection, the standards in this part are unlikely to be met.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor has in place an accessibility policy and plan that covers accessibility in relation to the required areas of curriculum, physical environment and written information for the proposed age range.  The proprietor has ensured that this requirement is likely to be met by the school if the DfE decides to approve the implementation of the material change.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school is unlikely 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, as set out in the annex of this report.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

Dates of previous standard inspection 12 to 14 September 2023

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 11 to 18 11 to 18 11 to 18

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 56 80 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 60 80 Number of part-time pupils 0 0

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities 60 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Of which, number of pupils with an education, health and care plan 60 80

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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 60 80

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 16 18

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Information about this school

 The Write Time School is an independent school located in the London Borough of Croydon. The school is based at Warrington Road, Croydon, London, CR0 4BH.  This is an independent school for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities between the ages of 11 and 18 years old. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.  The school uses two alternative provisions.  The last standard inspection took place in September 2023.  Pupils are placed at the school by several neighbouring local authorities.

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Information about this inspection

 This material change inspection was commissioned by the DfE because the school has applied to change its capacity from 60 pupils to 80 pupils. The DfE requested that the inspectors consider whether particular standards in parts 3, 4, 5 and 8 are likely to continue being met if the material change is approved.  This was the school’s third material change inspection.  The inspectors met with the headteacher, the proprietor and other school leaders.  The inspectors held meetings with members of staff and reviewed documentation related to safeguarding, health and safety and risk assessments. The inspectors toured the premises to look at the space available for teaching and other activities. The inspectors reviewed the school’s proposals to recruit additional staff.  The inspectors reviewed the single central record of staff suitability checks. They looked at policies and procedures to check the school’s likely compliance with the

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Inspection team

Kieran Bird, lead inspector His Majesty’s Inspector

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Inspection team

Rebecca Iles-Smith His Majesty’s Inspector

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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.  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.  12 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005[12].  16 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 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.

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Part 5. Premises of and accommodation at schools

 25 The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that the school premises and the accommodation and facilities provided therein are maintained to a standard such that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of pupils are ensured.  28(1) The standard in this paragraph is met if the proprietor ensures that- – 28(1)(b) toilets and urinals have an adequate supply of cold water and washing facilities have an adequate supply of hot and cold water;

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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. 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 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

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