Exeter College

Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Exeter College Exeter College, Hele Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4JS Inspection of residential provision Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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residential accommodation

Exeter College provides further education for 16- to 18-year-old learners, including apprenticeships and A levels, as well as courses for higher education and adult courses, community education and professional development courses.

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residential accommodation

Residential accommodation is provided for learners who are enrolled in Exeter Chiefs Rugby Academy.

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residential accommodation

At the time of the inspection, 21 students were living in the residential accommodation. Seven students were living with host families.

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good

How well young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The college provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Students said they like living at the college; they feel safe and have built positive relationships with their peers. They said they have strong relationships with staff, who they can talk to if they are worried about something. The students develop strong relationships with their peers, based on mutual respect and kindness towards one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Students make substantial progress at the college, and they are well supported by the staff to develop their skills for independence. Staff help students learn how to do their own laundry, keep their room clean and to prepare nutritious food. Students are supported to develop good levels of emotional resilience, and they receive support from a range of external sources. However, although students enjoy the food provided to them, they say it does not always provide them with the level of nutrition they need as active rugby students. The college supports students to work with a nutritionist to better understand their own needs and to prepare and plan their meals around the half-board provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Students’ aspirations are prioritised and many go on to earn professional rugby contracts or places at university. There is good support for students to develop their study skills and to complete their applications for university courses. Incentives and rewards are given by the staff for tidiness and cleanliness. There are strong working relationships between staff across the college site and beyond, ensuring there is a team around each student, with all working together. Students have various check- ins with a range of staff, and this helps them to feel well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Students are supported to develop a good understanding of a range of health and wellbeing issues that may impact them. They are supported by learning sessions in college and by having conversations in the residential setting. Students engage in regular activities to widen their knowledge and social understanding. Furthermore, they are signposted to specialist external support services that enhance the college provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Residential staff meet regularly with students for them to express their views and be included in decisions that are made about them. Students have regular opportunities to meet with senior leaders, so they feel listened to and can express their views. However, student representatives said that they do not always feel their role is beneficial as many requests are declined.

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

Arrangements for staying with host families ensure that students are well matched with a suitable host. Early robust planning ensures that students feel comfortable and welcome. Parents said that hosts are supportive and provide a homely experience for students. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of young people: good

The residential accommodation is clean, tidy and well maintained. The kitchen and communal areas are small for the number of students staying there. Use of the space is well managed, with students working together so they can access the kitchen space in a staggered way. There is a garden that is well maintained and enables students to relax outside on warmer days. Students commented that estates staff are regularly at the accommodation making improvements.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

There have been few safeguarding or behavioural incidents in residential, which is indicative of how well students are being helped and supported. Residential staff check in with students regularly and they recognise when students may be feeling unwell or not themselves. This enables them to provide additional support to students when this is needed. Residential staff address issues relating to inappropriate language or behaviour, and students are taught to be respectful and kind to one another.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Staff provide students with good support when they are experiencing any issues due to difficulties inside or outside of college. Students are taught how to keep themselves safe, and they are signposted to external organisations when needed. When there were concerns about how 2 students had behaved in the community, staff robustly addressed this. Support was provided to help all the students to learn from these experiences.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

Residential students are well supported with online safety. They engage in numerous learning sessions, so they understand how to keep themselves safe online. Filtering and monitoring systems are robust and staff take proactive measures to support students learning when there are concerns. Staff support students to understand positive relationships and the consequences of bullying and harassment. If there are any concerns, students know how to report these; robust action is taken to address them swiftly.

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How well young people are helped and protected: good

There have been no allegations made against residential staff. When there are low- level concerns, these are addressed in a robust and timely manner. Internal investigations are completed to ensure all concerns are explored, with effective leadership and management oversight. When complaints are received, leaders and managers complete thorough investigations. Action is taken to ensure that effective decisions are made so that appropriate measures are implemented and outcomes are clear and evidenced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good knowledge of the students. They understand the students’ needs and what needs to be in place to support them effectively. There is a good level of management oversight in place. Leaders and managers understand what is working well in residential and the areas for development. An action plan has been created to develop the residential provision. This is being reviewed regularly to make improvements to the residential experience for students. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoke positively about working in residential and said how much they enjoyed working with the students. They said they have good support from their manager and find her to be approachable. The systems in place between college and residential work well and there is good joined-up working across the college site. Staff said they have access to regular training, support and supervision. Regular team meetings are now being held, and these are well attended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment checks are robust and thorough. In-depth checks and processes are undertaken to ensure that all staff are safe to work with children. Health and safety is professionally managed and fire evacuation practices are held regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The cultural needs of staff and students are met. There are a wide range of resources and activities to promote student learning and widen their understanding, so they treat each other with dignity and respect. Leaders and managers have good working relationships with host families who support residential students. Although checks are completed for host families, some gaps were identified in this. Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Points for improvement

 The college leaders should ensure they review all checks and risk assessments for host families to ensure these are sufficient.  The college leaders should strengthen opportunities to ensure all students develop the knowledge and understanding required to effectively plan and prepare meals that meet the daily nutritional demands of professional athletic performance.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of 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 further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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accommodation details

Social care unique reference number: 1274769

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Inspectors

Sarah Sheffield, Social Care Inspector Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for further education college with residential accommodation: Exeter College 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspectors

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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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