Sutherland School

Sutherland School Hospital Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7EE

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inspection report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet all the independent school standards if it is registered.

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inspection report:

The purpose of this inspection was to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the proposed school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards and associated requirements that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out pre-registration inspections of proposed independent schools, we report on the provider’s likely compliance with part 8 of the independent school standards first. Under part 8, the proprietor is required to ensure that the school meets all of the independent school standards consistently. The standard in part 8 is intended to ensure that the quality of leadership and management at the school is sufficient for that purpose.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor body has appointed leaders who have the skills and knowledge required to run the school. Leaders have undertaken extensive preparation work in advance of the school’s opening. This includes work on curriculum, how the school will operate day to day and work on the school site. This means that leaders demonstrate that the independent school standards (the standards) are likely to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Curriculum

The school has developed a curriculum policy, which demonstrates that the curriculum is likely to be appropriate for the pupils it proposes to admit. These include pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The curriculum policy is accompanied by a range of documents, which outline the ways in which the curriculum will be adapted, based on the needs of pupils, while remaining ambitious for all. This policy is accompanied by appropriate plans and schemes of work. Leaders understand that all of these plans will be adapted when pupils arrive in the school as a result of the likely wide range of pupils’ particular needs.

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Curriculum

The curriculum is broad and covers a wide range of subjects. It includes careers guidance as necessary. It also includes appropriate content on relationships and sex education in an age- and stage-appropriate way.

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Curriculum

The curriculum is likely to help pupils develop their confidence, knowledge and skills.

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Teaching

The school has an appropriate training programme already underway for teachers as they are appointed. This focuses on training teachers on how to make the curricular adaptations necessary for pupils who have missed a lot of school. It also focuses on how teachers will integrate the needs outlined in pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans into teaching plans. Leaders have appropriate plans in place to appoint suitably qualified staff.

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Assessment

The school has detailed plans to assess pupils on transition into the school. This means that the staff are likely to understand pupils’ particular starting points and needs. Leaders understand the centrality of transition and ongoing assessment to supporting pupils’ progress and attainment.

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Assessment

The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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pupils

The school has clear curriculum plans in place to develop pupils spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. The curriculum teaches pupils about fundamental British values and public institutions. It contains an appropriate range of arts activities alongside content on cultures and traditions, festivals and religions. The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has ensured that those who have already been appointed to senior positions in the school have the skills and knowledge they need in safeguarding. Leaders have an appropriate knowledge of safer recruitment. They have written a safeguarding policy that reflects the most up-to-date advice from the Secretary of State.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have appropriate plans in place to train staff, record any safeguarding incidents and respond to them.

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Anti-bullying and behaviour

Leaders have developed an appropriate anti-bullying strategy. They have also developed an appropriate behaviour policy and a method of recording behaviour issues and sanctions applied. Both these policies reflect the particular needs of pupils the school is likely to admit.

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pupils

Leaders have written appropriate health and safety, risk assessment and first-aid policies. They have appropriate plans to train all staff in first aid. They have written risk assessments that reflect the risks present on the school site and for when pupils leave the school site for purposes, such as trips.

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pupils

The school has commissioned a full site survey to support the management of fire risk. Leaders have made the adjustments they need to the site in response to this risk assessment’s findings. One key fire exit is not as safe as it needs to be because the exit is across uneven ground. Leaders know this and have plans to relay the uneven path. In the meantime, leaders have an appropriate risk assessment and mitigations in place to make this exit safe.

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Admissions and attendance

The school has prepared an admissions and attendance register in advance of the school’s opening. These have the required fields in them so that the regulations are likely to be followed when leaders begin to use them. The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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The recruitment checks made on staff, supply staff and the proprietor

Leaders understand the checks they need to make on staff. Leaders have made all of the checks of staff that are needed. While leaders do not intend to use supply or agency staff, they have plans in place to make all of the checks needed should they do so.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The school has a single central record in electronic format. It contains the fields required in the guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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and showers

There are suitable showering and changing facilities for pupils.

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and showers

There are separate toilets for boys and girls. The toilets have hot and cold running water.

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and showers

There are drinking water fountains for pupils’ use. These are clearly marked as such.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

There is an appropriate medical room in the school. It is next to a toilet. It has hot and cold running water.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The building has been renovated to a standard, where reasonable steps have been taken to secure the health, safety and welfare of pupils.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The school has lighting around the whole of the perimeter. This means that adults and pupils are likely to be safe when entering and leaving the premises.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Lighting in classrooms is suitable for teaching pupils. Acoustics in classrooms are similarly suitable for teaching lessons.

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Outdoor space

There is appropriate outdoor space for physical education and for pupils to play. The outdoor spaces are clean and safe.

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Outdoor space

The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The school has a website in place. The information required by the standards is on this website. The website also contains the school’s up-to-date safeguarding policy. The school has well-developed plans in place to support pupils and families through the EHC Plan review process. It also has procedures in place to make account of the income and expenditure of funding from local authorities.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

Leaders have developed a complaints policy that meets the standards. The policy is in writing and available on the school’s website. It allows for complaints to be considered informally in the first instance. It contains clear timelines for the school to respond to any complaint and an appropriate escalation procedure.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proposed school is likely to meet all the standards in this part if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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The school’s accessibility plan

Leaders have developed an accessibility plan. It meets all of the requirements of Schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. The policy states that leaders will review the plan regularly, particularly when new pupils arrive in the school.

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. Inspectors checked the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards. These are the requirements set out in the schedule to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014.

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About this inspection

Following our renewed inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

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About this inspection

Inspectors spoke with the quality assurance leader, the executive headteacher, headteacher and proprietor during the inspection.

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About this inspection

The proposed school intends to provide education for 42 pupils with EHC plans, in the age range of 5 to 18. The pupils the school intends to admit will have cognitive and leaning needs, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, moderate learning difficulties and specific learning difficulties.

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About this inspection

The school site consists of a larger Victorian building and a former nursery. This pre-inspection registration was of the former nursery only. The rest of this Victorian building was not considered for this proposed school. The school will have access to fields and a forest area. These belong to another school which backs onto Sutherland School.

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About this inspection

The school operates from Hospital Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7EE.

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About this inspection

The proposed school does not intend to use any alternative provision.

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About this proposed school

Proprietor Polaris Children’s Services Limited Headteacher Ms Victoria Palmer Type of school Other Independent Special School Capacity 42 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s proposal: 42 Number of part-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s proposal: 0

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About this proposed school

Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities on roll Provider’s proposal: 42

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About this proposed school

Number of pupils on roll who have an education, health and care plan, or who are looked after by a local authority Provider’s proposal: 42

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About this proposed school

Age range of pupils Provider’s proposal: 5 to 18 Gender of pupils Provider’s proposal: Mixed Total hours operating as a school per week Provider’s proposal: 32.5

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About this proposed school

Total hours of teaching provided per week Provider’s proposal: 26

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About this proposed school

Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 10

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About this proposed school

Number of part-time teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 0 Annual fees for day pupils From £65,000 Email address schooloffice@sutherlandschool.co.uk providing education and skills for children and learners of all ages, and inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people

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About this proposed school

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About this proposed school

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About this proposed school

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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