Vranch House School

School material change inspection report

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Vranch House School Pinhoe Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 8AD

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Main inspection findings

Part 3. Welfare, health and safety of pupils Paragraphs 7(a) to 7(b) and 16 to 16(b)  Leaders have conducted a thorough risk assessment to prepare for the proposed increase in age range so that the school is suitably equipped to admit pupils up to the age of 19 years of age. This includes identifying potential risks that pupils over the age of 18 might face now they are classed as adults. There is also a focus on ensuring that staff are appropriately trained to care for and educate pupils up to the age of 19 years. This provides sufficient reassurance that pupils’ specific needs will be met and any risks mitigated effectively.  The school has reviewed its safeguarding procedures to reflect the change in age of pupils. This will ensure the school maintains its existing secure culture of safeguarding.  The proprietor has ensured that the relevant independent school standards checked in this part are likely to be met if the material change request is approved.

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Main inspection findings

Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010  The proprietor ensures that the school complies with schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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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

Type of school Other independent special school

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School details

School status Independent special school

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School details

Annual fees (day pupils) £29,953 to £40,727

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School details

Date of previous standard inspection 1 to 3 July 2025

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recommendation

Age range of pupils 2 to 18 2 to 19 2 to 19

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recommendation

Number of pupils on the school roll 60 60 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age 55 55

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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School’s current position School’s proposal

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

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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 60

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff 6 6

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School’s current position School’s proposal

Number of part-time teaching staff 28 28

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Information about this school

 Vranch House School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 18. Pupils are referred to the school by the local authority. The school is located at Pinhoe Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 8AD.  The school provides a range of therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, hypnotherapy, speech and language therapy and music therapy.  All pupils have an education, health and care plan. All pupils have severe communication difficulties alongside medical needs.  The school offers therapeutic outpatient care across the local authority.  The last standard inspection of the school took place in July 2025. At that time the school did not make use of alternative provision.

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Information about this inspection

 This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE)to consider the school’s request for a material change. The proprietor would like to increase the age of the oldest pupil that the school is registered to admit from 18 to 19.  This is the proprietor’s second request for a material change since its previous standard inspection in July 2025. The first of these was to request an increase to the number of pupils the school is allowed to admit. That request was granted by the DfE.  The inspection focused on some of the welfare, health and safety standards in part 3.  This inspection was carried out remotely.

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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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Inspection team

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