Ash Field Academy

Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 1 Ash Field Academy Ash Field School, Broad Avenue, LEICESTER, LE5 4PY Residential provision inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this residential special school

This is an academy school in Leicester with one hundred and sixty-two pupils. The residential provision is in a dedicated area in the main school and caters for up to 18 children aged eight to nineteen at any one time. Children have physical disabilities and complex health conditions, as well as associated communication, sensory and learning needs. Children usually access the residential service for one or two nights a week. Children also attend the residential service for extended days after school on some occasions.

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Information about this residential special school

Children were engaged with contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this residential special school

The residential provision is led by an experienced head of care.

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Information about this residential special school

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential special school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 3 December 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 2

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outstanding

Children are cared for by dedicated and nurturing staff, who are aspirational for each child. Staff empower children and through a supportive and encouraging approach, they enable children to achieve exceptional progress.

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outstanding

The children are flourishing as a direct result of their overnight stays at the residential provision. For example, through the guidance of staff, children are using cutlery for the first time, making themselves a drink or paying for a meal out. Children are learning new skills that benefit them now and will continue as they get older.

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outstanding

Children participate in a range of activities, spend time with their friends and just have fun while staying in the residential provision. Activities are planned for every evening to ensure they are inclusive for all the children. If there are any barriers to children being involved in an activity, staff are creative and break down any barriers to ensure all children can fully participate.

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outstanding

The children continue to develop their own emotional and social skills. Children show empathy and understanding to their friends. They are patient and tolerant of each other and recognise the individual needs of their friends. All children respect and support each other to do their very best.

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outstanding

The range of ages and abilities of the children are always considered when planning the overnight stays. Children who attend the residential provision are exceptional ambassadors for the service. Children are polite, engaging and can easily talk about the positive difference that spending overnights has made. Children inspire each other and when children see a friend doing a task, they are more inclined to have a go themselves.

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outstanding

The manager and senior leaders work tirelessly to support every child, going above and beyond to ensure each child feels included and valued. They are creative and flexible and work together to ensure that every child is supported to participate, achieve, and enjoy meaningful experiences.

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outstanding

There is a smooth and well ‑ coordinated approach between education and residential care staff. Staff from both areas work closely together to maintain a consistent approach that supports children’s progress. Children and staff contribute to setting targets, and records show how these targets are met and the impact it has on children’s outcomes.

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outstanding

Children are offered varied and meaningful opportunities to share their views and wishes. Managers consistently provide feedback on the outcomes of their requests. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 3 This reinforces to children that their contributions are listened to, valued, and used to shape the service.

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outstanding

As soon as individuals arrive on school premises, the safeguarding of children takes priority. There are established systems and protocols in place that ensure the school is a safe place to be so children can enjoy their stays in residential.

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outstanding

Leaders and managers have strengthened the safeguarding practice within the residential provision. With supervision and team meetings, there is a specific agenda items that particularly focus on safeguarding. Managers explore various topics to develop staff knowledge and equip them with the skills to manage any safeguarding issue.

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outstanding

Through the school curriculum, children are taught about a wide range of safeguarding topics. Residential staff build on this learning by reinforcing key messages in day ‑ to ‑ day interactions with the children. Staff use everyday opportunities to help children explore risks in a way that is meaningful to them. As a result, children develop a strong practical understanding about how to keep themselves safe in different situations.

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outstanding

Medication processes at the provision are safe, well ‑ organised, and effectively managed. Staff followed clear procedures for administering and recording medication. There have not been any medication errors since the last inspection. This reflects the clear understanding that staff have about their responsibilities when administering medication.

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outstanding

The residential provision and school share several trained and experienced designated safeguarding lead staff. The staff understand the needs of the children and their families. Leaders and managers work in partnership with external professional agencies and have effective links with local authority designated officers. This collaboration enables the sharing of best practice to keep children safe.

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outstanding

Children, staff and visitors are protected and their welfare promoted through the rigorous health and safety arrangements throughout the education and residential environments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The residential provision is led by a committed, skilled and highly effective head of care. She is at the heart of the provision and is involved in every aspect of running it. The staff are aspirational for all children. The team has an excellent team morale and a sense of shared ownership. This ensures a continued and dynamic improvement across the provision. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 4 The residential provision is supported by the senior leadership with continued oversight from the governing body board. Together they share a vision of providing children with exceptional support that enables them to achieve their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff have spent time in building commendable relationships with the children’s parents and carers. Time has been spent understanding the family dynamics as this has helped to tailor the care for each child having breaks at the residential provision. Children are central to the work undertaken in the residential provision. The manager and staff respond at times of family crisis and ensure that children are fully supported and if needed, practical and emotional support given to parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The head of care has developed opportunities for the children to participate in fundraising activities. Money raised is shared between the school and local community. The children fully immersed themselves into fund raising activities and have seen how their actions have made a difference to other people’s lives. The children also enjoyed using some of the money raised to fund a Christmas meal out for the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have continued to receive training. There has been an extra focus on improving the case recordings to capture specific details about children and what they are achieving. This evidence is also used to support the progression of goals and targets being set in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are regular visits undertaken by independent visitor. The head of care is open and responsive to any recommendations made. She welcomes challenge and exploration of ways to improve practice for the benefit of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the care and support their children receive from staff. They described staff as, ‘Phenomenal, warm and supportive.’ Parents and families value what their children receive from staying in the residential provision and see it has, ‘a lifeline’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All national minimum standards are met and there are no recommendations for improvement identified at this inspection. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Children Act 1989 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 6

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Residential special school details

Social care unique reference number: SC006451

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Residential special school details

Headteacher/teacher in charge: Ms Tracey Lawrence

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Residential special school details

Type of school: Residential Special School

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Residential special school details

Email address: office@ashfield.leicester.sch.uk

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Inspector

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential special school - Ash Field Academy 7 to 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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