Minds Education

Minds Education Old School Stamford House, Stamford Road, Mossley OL5 0BA

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inspection report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet all the independent school standards if it is registered. It is currently operating without registration.

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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

At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection in May 2025, the proprietor had not ensured that all of the independent school standards (the standards) were likely to be met if the Department for Education (DfE) decided to register the provider as an independent school. Since then, the areas identified at the previous inspection relating to the quality of education, welfare of pupils, suitability of staff and premises have been addressed.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that it now demonstrates the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure that the standards are consistently met. It has put in place a systematic approach to maintaining oversight of each of the standards. In addition, the proprietor has collaborated with other non-association independent schools to seek support in areas where they needed to develop expertise. The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Curriculum

The proprietor plans to deliver a wide-ranging curriculum that aims to provide pupils with a broad range of subjects. At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that curriculum plans contained the precise knowledge that pupils should learn and remember. Now, the proposed school has detailed plans in place to provide pupils with linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education. The proprietor has ensured that the school has a well-defined written curriculum policy. There are numerous opportunities for pupils to learn and make progress across different curriculum areas.

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Curriculum

There are schemes of work and plans in place for the intended curriculum. These schemes of work take into consideration the starting points of pupils. This includes the needs identified in pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans. Plans indicate how activities may be adapted for these pupils. Individual subjects clearly set out the milestones they want pupils to achieve. In all subjects, these plans make clear the precise content that pupils should learn and remember. The proposed school has identified appropriate interventions to support pupils, who are at the initial stages of learning to read.

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Curriculum

The curriculum provides guidance about the sequence of learning, resources needed, prior learning and the expected approach to assessment. This information will provide staff with helpful guidance about how to deliver the curriculum effectively.

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Curriculum

The proposed school’s relationship and sex education (RSE) policy sits alongside the personal, social and health and economic (PSHE) education policy. It outlines the statutory provision for secondary-age pupils. The proposed PSHE curriculum is appropriate for the school’s intended pupils.

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Curriculum

At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that the RSE policy was published on its website. The proposed school now has its RSE policy published on its website.

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Curriculum

The proprietor has suitable plans in place to provide pupils with careers information and guidance. This includes access to an impartial careers adviser. This information will help pupils to make informed choices about their futures.

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Teaching

The proprietor intends to employ qualified staff to implement the curriculum. Where teachers might teach outside of their specialist subject, it intends to provide suitable professional development. This will mean that teachers gain the subject knowledge that they may require. The proprietor has provided documentation to support staff with strategies that will help them to deliver the curriculum in a way that takes account of the specific needs of the pupils who may attend the proposed school.

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Teaching

The proposed school intends for teaching to actively promote pupils’ understanding of fundamental British values.

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Assessment

At the time of the previous inspection, the proprietor had not set out clear information about how teachers should make use of assessment strategies in the classroom, or how to use this information to evaluate pupil performance.

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Assessment

The proposed school now has a clear and well-developed approach to assessment. The assessment strategies it intends to use are set out in the school’s assessment policy with clarity. The proposed school has thought carefully about how teachers will use these strategies in the classroom. It is clear how the information that teachers collect on pupils’ performance will be used by the school to evaluate overall pupil performance.

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Assessment

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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pupils

The proposed school has carefully considered how it will promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. This is primarily through the school’s curriculum and extra-curricular activities.

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pupils

The proposed school intends for pupils to learn about British values through different curriculum experiences and visits. For example, the school intends to use guest speakers, such as the police, to inform pupils about law and order. In addition, it intends for pupils to visit places of worship to give them an understanding of different religions.

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pupils

Celebrating difference will be a central part of the proposed school. One of its aims is to ensure that pupils contribute to the community by providing support to local groups. Recognising, understanding and respecting differences between people is a core part of this. The curriculum that pupils will receive will help them to fulfil the proposed school’s aim.

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pupils

The proposed school intends for pupils to have opportunities to gain experiences and debate different current affairs as part of their wider development. This will help pupils to understand diverse views. The proposed school will ensure that pupils are not exposed to partisan political or religious opinions.

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pupils

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school has a written safeguarding policy that reflects the latest government guidance. The policy is published on the school’s website.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has had the necessary training to oversee the school’s safeguarding procedures. It intends for the proposed school’s future headteacher, or current staff member, to be the designated safeguarding lead (DSL). The proprietor has plans in place to ensure that the DSL is suitably qualified to carry out this role.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school has a suitable system to record any safeguarding concerns and the subsequent actions that it takes.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proposed school has a written behaviour policy. It sets out what staff will do to promote and recognise pupils’ positive behaviour. It sets out clear expectations for pupils’ behaviour. When pupils display poor behaviour, the policy sets out what sanctions the school will take.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proprietor has ensured that there is a suitable system in place to record any incidents of poor behaviour. It intends to review this regularly to identify any emerging trends and patterns.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proposed school has plans in place to train staff on how to use techniques to reduce anxiety and where physical intervention may be needed. The proprietor recognises that physical intervention should only be used as a last resort.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

The proprietor has a clear plan to employ additional staff to ensure appropriate supervision of pupils, should the DfE decide to register the provider as an independent school.

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Anti-bullying

The proprietor has set out an appropriate anti-bullying policy. This demonstrates that the proprietor will not tolerate bullying of any type. The proprietor intends to provide training for staff and pupils about how to recognise and resolve different types of bullying.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor has ensured that there are appropriate health and safety policies in place. It has ensured that it complies fully with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. There is a necessary fire risk assessment in place.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection, the proprietor had not ensured that the required signage was in place to ensure that staff, pupils and visitors knew how to leave the premises safely in the event of a fire or where the fire evacuation point was located. The proprietor has now ensured that suitable signage is in place throughout the premises to ensure that staff, pupils and visitors know how to leave the building in the event of a fire and the location of the fire assembly point.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor has ensured that there is an appropriate first-aid policy in place. At the time of the previous inspection, first-aid boxes did not contain all the necessary equipment. The proprietor has addressed this so that first-aid boxes now contain sufficient equipment to support staff with the implementation of the policy, including appropriate gloves to prevent cross-contamination.

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Admissions and attendance

There is a suitable admissions and attendance policy in place. These policies demonstrate a commitment to close working with home schools, and parents and carers to ensure that pupils make a smooth transition to the school and attend well. The proprietor is committed to identifying and removing barriers that may prevent some pupils from attending the proposed provision.

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Admissions and attendance

The proprietor has ensured that there is a process in place for the registration of pupils. The school’s admissions register contains all relevant information and meets the requirements of School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.

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Risk assessment

There is a suitable risk assessment policy in place. The proposed school has established a broad range of risk assessments for the premises and pupil activities. Risk assessments identify the potential risk effectively, how the school intends to mitigate the risk and who is responsible for ensuring pupils’ safety.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met 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

The proprietor has ensured that, as part of its suitability procedures, it makes the relevant employment checks on staff, for example the proprietor has checked on staff’s medical fitness and understands the requirement to do so.

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

At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection, the proprietor was not fully aware of their duty to carry out section 128 checks on appropriate staff. The proprietor has since ensured that checks under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, to establish whether an individual is prohibited from managing a school, have been carried out on all appropriate staff and leaders. The proprietor is fully aware of the requirement to do so and has taken the necessary action.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has put in place an electronic single central record. Many of the required checks have been completed for the proprietor and any staff already employed. These checks include the right to work in the UK, prohibition of teaching checks and qualifications. One member of the proprietor body has completed safer recruitment training and demonstrates a secure understanding of safer recruitment practice.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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and showers

The proposed school has suitable toilet facilities for pupils. Cubicles are lockable from the inside and intended for single use.

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and showers

Pupils will have access to drinking water throughout the day from a mains supply. It is labelled appropriately. Where water should not be used for drinking, it is clearly labelled throughout the school. The proprietor has ensured that checks on the temperature of water at the point of use have been conducted across all areas of the school. The water temperature from all taps has been assessed and appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure that hot water does not pose a scalding risk to pupils. Suitable signage is now in place at relevant points to make users aware of water temperature. These aspects have been addressed by the proprietor since the time of the previous inspection, when these requirements were judged as not likely to be met.

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and showers

The proposed school does not have any shower facilities on site. It intends to use local sporting facilities to ensure that pupils have access to an appropriate physical education curriculum. Showers and changing facilities are available at this location and the proposed school has carried out an appropriate risk assessment.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The proprietor has ensured that suitable accommodation is now available to cater for pupils’ medical needs. The dedicated medical room contains washing facilities and is close to a toilet. It is now appropriately set up and contains a bed for pupils, and is readily available for use when required.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The school building is well maintained. It is attractive and welcoming to pupils. It features 3 classrooms, a breakout space, a library, an intervention space, a kitchen and an office space. Many of the spaces can be used for multiple purposes if required.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Classrooms are well lit for the activities that will take place. External lighting will allow staff and pupils to leave the building safely via street lighting provided. Lighting and acoustics make a suitable learning environment.

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Outdoor space

The proposed school has a communal space nearby that it intends to use for pupils’ recreational and social time. The school intends that pupils will be supervised when they are walking to and from the location and when they are using the area. The proposed school has appropriate risk assessments in place.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school has a written statement of its ethos and aims. This is available on the school’s website.

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Part 6. Provision of information

At the time of the previous pre-registration inspection, the proposed school’s website did not contain the necessary contact details for the proprietor. The proprietor has ensured that the school’s address, telephone number and contact details are now available on the school’s website.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school has the required policies on its website. This includes policies relating to admissions, the curriculum, behaviour, exclusions and health and safety. Where this is not the case, policies are readily available when requested.

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Part 6. Provision of information

There are suitable arrangements in place to work with different local authorities to review EHC plans.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor has ensured that its details are now available on the school’s website. This includes the name of the proprietor, address, contact details and information about how parents and carers can make contact during both term time and school holidays.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The complaints policy is in writing and is available on the school’s website. The proprietor has ensured that the policy is clear and contains information about how to raise a complaint. It gives sufficient detail around timescales associated with each stage of the complaints process.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proposed school has ensured that it has systems in place to ensure that all formal complaints will be recorded appropriately.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part are likely to be met if the DfE decides to register the provider as an independent school.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The proposed school has ensured that it has a suitable accessibility plan in place. It demonstrates how the school will fulfil its duty under schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010. For example, the accessibility plan considers how information can be made accessible to all members of the school community.

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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.

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About this inspection

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

The inspector spoke with the proprietor, who is also the headteacher, during the inspection. He also spoke with a representative from the local authority and with a member of staff from a local school that currently commissions places at the provision.

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About this inspection

At the time of this inspection, the proposed school was operating as an alternative provider. There were 5 pupils recorded on the school’s admissions register. The date of the first admission was October 2024. None of the pupils were looked after by the local authority.

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About this inspection

No teaching was observed as the inspection took place during a school holiday.

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About this inspection

This was the proposed school’s second pre-registration inspection. The previous inspection took place in May 2025.

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About this inspection

The proprietor intends to appoint a headteacher. At the time of the inspection, the chair of the proprietor body was the headteacher. One member of staff has been appointed.

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About this inspection

The inspector made a tour of the site, both internally and externally, to check the suitability and safety of the premises.

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About this inspection

The inspector viewed a wide range of documents provided by the proprietor, including safeguarding information, statutory policies and the proposed school’s curriculum.

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About this inspection

It is proposed that the school will provide full-time education for up to 14 pupils, aged between 11 to 16 years. It is intended that the proposed school will cater for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, cognitive and learning needs, speech, language and communication needs, autism spectrum disorder, moderate learning difficulty and specific learning difficulty. It is expected that pupils will have an EHC plan.

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About this inspection

The proprietor does not intend to make use of any alternative provision.

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About this inspection

The proposed school intends to operate from premises located at Old School Stamford House, Stamford Road, Mossley OL5 0BA. The premises are spread across 3 floors and are comprised of 3 classrooms, 2 breakout areas, social space and a sensory room. In addition, the premises includes toilets, a kitchen area and office space.

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About this inspection

The proprietor is registered at Companies House. The proprietor is Tamunotonye Selema, who is also the headteacher of the proposed school.

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About this inspection

There is currently no governing body. The proprietor intends to have a governing body in place by the time the school is registered to open to pupils.

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About this proposed school

Proprietor Tamunotonye Salema Headteacher Tamunotonye Selema Type of school Other Independent Special School Capacity 14 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s current position: 5 Provider’s proposal: 14 Number of part-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s current position: 5 Provider’s proposal: 0 Number of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities on roll Provider’s current position: 5 Provider’s proposal: 14

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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 current position: 4 Provider’s proposal: 14

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About this proposed school

Age range of pupils Provider’s current position: 13 to 16 Provider’s proposal: 11 to 16 Gender of pupils Provider’s current position: mixed Provider’s proposal: mixed Total hours operating as a school per week Provider’s current position: 24 Provider’s proposal: 24 Total hours of teaching provided per week Provider’s current position: 24 Provider’s proposal: 24 Number of full-time equivalent teaching staff Provider’s current position: 1 Provider’s proposal: 5 Number of part-time teaching staff Provider’s current position: 1 Provider’s proposal: 2 Annual fees for day pupils £20,000 to £65,000 Email address t.selema@mindseducation.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

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