Felden Hall School

Felden Hall School Longcroft Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP3 0BN

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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 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 is Witherslack Group Ltd. It currently operates 37 other registered independent schools and is well versed in the sector. The proprietor will ensure effective oversight of the school and its provision through the deployment of its central team of operational directors, regional directors and subject specialists. The proprietor will use a comprehensive quality assurance system and set of processes that already exist in the proprietor’s other schools. In addition to the use of external consultancy, it will monitor and evaluate the school’s provision to ensure that the independent school standards (the standards) are met consistently over time.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that leaders appointed to the school have the requisite knowledge, skills and experience through a rigorous recruitment and selection process. The backgrounds of the senior leadership team encompass special school education across the age range of the proposed school. Additionally, there is experience within the team of senior leadership in other successful schools in the Witherslack Group.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has appointed teachers, who have qualified teacher status and who have prior knowledge and experience of special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They have a clear understanding of how to cater for pupils’ academic as well as pastoral needs. There are appropriate systems and procedures in place to look after the welfare and wellbeing of pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

There is a comprehensive training package for all staff in place. This includes provision for pupils in special education. The continued development of staff will ensure that they are suitably equipped to work with pupils who will have a range of needs. All pupils will be in receipt of education, health and care (EHC) plans.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school is likely to meet the standard in this part if it is registered.

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Curriculum

The proposed school will predominantly cater for pupils with autism, social, emotional and mental health barriers, along with a range of other needs. The aim is to ensure that pupils are nurtured to be their best and achieve what they need for their next steps in their educational journey. To this end, the proposed school has a broad, ambitious and engaging curriculum. At its heart, reading is a priority. There is a rich offer in place for learning to read as well as reading for pleasure.

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Curriculum

The curriculum will give pupils suitable experiences in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical, and aesthetic and creative education. The religious education curriculum enables pupils to learn about faiths and beliefs. Leaders have made sure that fundamental British values are interwoven throughout the curriculum and proposed assemblies. Older pupils will be able to take a suite of accreditations and qualifications. These include GCSEs as well as vocational qualifications.

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Curriculum

There is an appropriate and well-sequenced personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum that caters for the full age range. This includes content on protected characteristics and relationships and sex education (RSE). For the latter, the content meets statutory guidance. The proposed school intends to consult with parents and carers about the content of its RSE programme.

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Curriculum

There is a comprehensive careers education and guidance programme in place. This begins in Year 1, with the consideration of jobs and money. It progresses to encompass knowledge of the workplace as well as preparation for adulthood. Pupils will also follow a personal development programme that will cover life skills and experiences they may not otherwise have, such as learning to canoe.

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Teaching

The proposed school has a curriculum policy that sets out its expectations and approaches for the delivery of the curriculum. This, along with policies for SEND and for teaching pupils who speak English as an additional language, provide helpful guidance for staff.

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Teaching

Suitably qualified staff will deliver the curriculum. For example, primary teachers with a background in special education will teach the proposed school’s phonics programme. While the appointed staff have had experiences of teaching different phonics programmes, not all have prior experience of the proposed school’s chosen phonics programme. Consequently, the proprietor has scheduled training for this so there will be a consistent approach in place to teaching pupils to read. Subject specialists will deliver the secondary curriculum.

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Teaching

The proprietor will staff the proposed school with a clinical team. They will work with teachers to adjust the curriculum, so that pupils enjoy their learning and achieve.

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Teaching

Leaders have a programme of quality assurance activities to check on the quality of teaching. This will inform subsequent training for teachers.

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Assessment

Leaders have considered carefully how pupils will be integrated into their new school. To do this, they will undertake a range of initial, baseline assessments to get a rounded picture of pupils’ various starting points. This includes understanding how much phonics knowledge pupils have and their mental health needs.

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Assessment

Staff will use pupils’ EHC plans to inform teaching. There will be regular formative and summative assessment to help determine pupils’ progress towards their EHC targets as well as through the intended curriculum.

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Assessment

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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pupils

The proposed school has made sure there are wide-ranging opportunities to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of how to be a positive citizen and be prepared for life in modern Britain. In addition, pupils will have experiences that enable them to explore different cultures, faiths and beliefs. For example, they will celebrate and learn about Chinese New Year. There are plans for pupils to make positive contributions to the local and school communities through the teaching of the curriculum.

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pupils

The proposed school knows it is responsible for ensuring that pupils are free from the promotion of partisan political views. It will ensure this throughout all school activities, including through the teaching of the curriculum and extra-curricular provision.

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pupils

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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Safeguarding

There are suitable arrangements in place to safeguard pupils. The proposed school has a comprehensive safeguarding policy that reflects the latest statutory guidance as well as what is required with regards to local authority procedures. It is published on its website. There is an electronic system that is in place to record safeguarding concerns. This is used across the proprietor’s other schools.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school will operate with a team of 3 suitably qualified designated safeguarding leads (DSL), one of whom will be the lead DSL. All staff appointed so far have received their safeguarding training as part of their induction. This includes consideration of online safety and ‘Prevent’ duty.

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Safeguarding

There will be ongoing safeguarding training throughout the year. There is to be a weekly safeguarding briefing for staff.

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Safeguarding

Pupils will learn how to keep themselves safe, including when online, through the PSHE curriculum. Leaders will also work with parents to raise their awareness of safeguarding risks.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

Suitable policies and procedures are in place for managing pupils’ behaviour, for positive handling and for managing suspensions and exclusions. Procedures are in place to record incidents of poor and positive behaviour.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

Staff intend to make reasonable adjustments to their approach to managing behaviour, informed by pupils’ specific needs and their EHC plans.

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Anti-bullying

The strategy and procedures for managing and preventing incidents of bullying are clear for staff to follow. The guidance for staff is comprehensive and reflects the complexities seen with cyber-bullying.

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Anti-bullying

Staff will receive ongoing training to ensure they are confident to spot and deal with bullying incidents, particularly with the vulnerability of pupils’ needs.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The policies that ensure the safety of pupils and staff comply with relevant health and safety laws. They clearly indicate, for example, who is responsible for site maintenance and the administration of first aid. All staff will be emergency first-aid trained. The proposed school will also have the required number of personnel with first aid at work certification.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor has ensured that the new school has a fire risk assessment in place and that the buildings meet building regulations. There are clear procedures to ensure ongoing compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is a comprehensive system of checks in place to ensure that the proposed school continues to meet its obligations, such as checking water temperature.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor’s policy is to ensure appropriate staffing levels for the range of pupils for whom it will cater. They have already employed 19 staff members with the plan to have 3 adults to a class size of 8 to 10 pupils. There will be staggered entry to the school. They plan to admit only 20 pupils in the first year of operation.

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Admissions and attendance

The school has an appropriate admissions register, and electronic attendance register in place. The proposed school knows how to maintain these registers in accordance with statutory regulations.

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Risk assessment

The risk assessment policy sets out how risks will be measured and mitigated for. Leaders will ensure that individual risk assessments will be carried out for each pupil. They will then make sure that staff receive the training they need to manage the identified risks.

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Risk assessment

The proposed school already has a suite of rigorous risk assessments in place. These cover the premises, off-site activities and vehicle use.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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

The proprietor’s central team manages in the first instance the recruitment of staff for a new school. The approach to this is rigorous. They have undertaken all relevant pre-employment checks on those staff who have already been appointed. Checks on members of the proprietor body have been completed.

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

The proposed school does not intend to use supply staff. However, if this intention were to change, the school knows and understands its role in relation to supply agencies and pre-employment checks on supply staff. It knows that it must receive written confirmation that relevant checks have been made on supply staff.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor maintains an electronic single central record of all the pre- employment checks on staff. This includes those staff that have started to work at the school as well as members of the proprietor body.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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and showers

Throughout this large site there are multiple toilet and showering facilities. This includes for disabled access. All sinks and showers have running hot and cold water. The heat of the water does not pose a scalding risk. While the school has several water fountains, there is also drinking water clearly labelled on the sinks where this applies.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The medical room is situated on the ground floor of the main building. It has ample space to cater for the needs of pupils. It contains the requisite medical bed, lockable medical cabinet for medicines, first-aid kits and sink with hot and cold water. It is located near to a toilet facility. There is a small step into the room that the proprietor has plans to alter. There will be a ramp installed for accessibility purposes.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The site is comprised of 3 buildings situated in large grounds. The campus has well-managed walkways between its buildings. Careful consideration has been given to the needs of the pupils that the school will cater for. For example, the use of clearly defined spaces, and appropriate equipment and furniture for the younger pupils who will use the primary building. There is ample space for the proposed capacity.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The reconditioning of the buildings has been completed to a high-quality specification. All areas are carpeted and there are bright and airy spaces. The specialist rooms for science, computing and food technology incorporate the latest equipment. This is also the case for the gymnasium, which sits above the large sports hall. All classrooms have either an interactive whiteboard or a large monitor screen for teaching.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

There are designated therapy and sensory rooms. The clinical team will be on site and have designated areas for their work.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The use of a premises team and their schedule of maintenance checks will help to ensure that the site is well maintained.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

All classrooms have natural light. Large spaces, such as the dining hall, have been furbished with appropriate insulation to help cancel noise for pupils with autism. There will be staggered use of such areas as the school grows.

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Outdoor space

The site is over 5 acres. There is plenty of space to play outside. Pupils will have access to a basketball court and an artificial pitch on which to play sport. There are plans to develop outdoor education, such as the development of a vegetable garden.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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Part 6. Provision of information

Leaders know and understand the information they have a duty to publish and provide for parents, the Department for Education (DfE) and other bodies, as required. The proposed school has constructed a website that contains such information.

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Part 6. Provision of information

There is a centralised system in place to ensure that local authorities receive the information they need about children who are looked after and pupils with an EHC plan. This includes financial information.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school has a template for reporting to parents termly about pupils’ progress.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

A policy for handling complaints is in place. The policy provides clear guidance on the procedures, timescales, composition of the panel where required, representation and confidentiality.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proprietor has a centralised system for the collation and retention of complaints information.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proprietor has ensured that standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school is registered.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The proposed school has an accessibility plan in place. The plan details how the school will ensure that all pupils can access the curriculum, information and the physical environment.

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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

This was the proposed school’s first pre-registration inspection.

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About this inspection

The proposed school is located at Longcroft Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 0BN. The proposed school has multiple buildings housed in large grounds. There are no current plans to have an additional site.

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About this inspection

The proposed school plans to cater for pupils with EHC plans for autism and a range of additional complex needs.

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About this inspection

Dependent upon the needs of the pupils, the proposed school may decide to use alternative provision.

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About this inspection

Inspectors met with the chief accounting officer for the proprietor body, operations director, health and safety executive, the central leader in charge of pastoral management and behaviour, the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the pastoral manager and other staff.

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About this inspection

Inspectors discussed the proposed school’s curriculum with leaders and looked at curriculum plans. They also discussed safeguarding arrangements and looked at the documentation and systems for this. This included scrutiny of the single central record.

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About this inspection

Inspectors toured the school site and considered a wide range of documentary evidence to check on the statutory requirements of the independent school standards.

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About this proposed school

Proprietor Witherslack Group Limited Headteacher Ian Reid Type of school Other Independent Special School Capacity 118 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Provider’s proposal: 118

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About this proposed school

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: 118

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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: 118

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About this proposed school

Age range of pupils Provider’s proposal: 6 to 16 Gender of pupils Provider’s proposal: mixed Total hours operating as a school per week Provider’s proposal: 45

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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: 19

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About this proposed school

Number of part-time teaching staff Provider’s proposal: 0 Number of staff in the residential provision Provider’s proposal: 0

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About this proposed school

Annual fees for day pupils £99,947 Email address felden-hall@witherslackgroup.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

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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About this proposed school

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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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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