The Old School House

The Old School House 1 March Road, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 0HA

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inspection report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material change relating to the school provision is implemented

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inspection report:

This inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education (DfE), which is the registration authority for independent schools. The school has applied to the DfE to make a material change to its registration. The school proposes to change the maximum number of pupils attending.

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inspection report:

The purpose of the inspection is to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards that are relevant to the material change that the school has applied to make.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out material change inspections of independent schools, we report on the school’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 keeps a close eye on the school. This helps him to check on the quality of education pupils receive. It also enables him to check that the school consistently meets the independent school standards (the standards). The proprietor uses expertise from an external school improvement adviser alongside reports from local authorities who commission places at the school. This supports him to understand where the school is having the biggest impact and where to target future school development priorities. The school caters for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The proprietor ensures that supporting pupils’ wellbeing is a high priority. Structured management meetings are used to review the impact of the support pupils receive. The proprietor understands the need to manage any increase in pupil numbers carefully. He is clear on the importance of ensuring that any increase in

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

pupil numbers does not impact negatively on pupils currently on roll.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The standard in this part was met at the previous inspection and is likely to be met should the DfE approve the implementation of the material change.

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Safeguarding

The curriculum teaches pupils important content on how to keep themselves safe. Where needed, staff adapt the curriculum to respond to pupils’ specific and changing needs and circumstances.

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Safeguarding

Staff benefit from the training they have. They understand how to spot the signs that a pupil may be at risk of harm. Staff raise concerns promptly, using the school’s agreed procedures. Designated safeguarding leads have appropriate knowledge to fulfil their roles. They act when concerns are raised. This includes working with external professionals when needed.

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Safeguarding

There is a safeguarding policy in place that is published on the school’s website. It takes due regard of current government guidance as issued by the Secretary of State.

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Supervision of pupils

Staff teach pupils in small class sizes. The proprietor understands the importance of keeping these small class sizes should the material change be approved. There are appropriate numbers of staff to cater for the needs of pupils. Staff understand the needs of pupils well. This helps them to provide effective support. Leaders intend to appoint an additional member of staff to keep staffing ratios as they are currently.

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Supervision of pupils

The proprietor understands the importance of carefully managing the increase in numbers. The school plans to use its existing referral and induction processes to ensure that it manages any increase in numbers effectively.

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Health and safety and fire

The school has appropriate health and safety policies in place. Staff are well trained in health and safety procedures. They apply policies effectively. The proprietor ensures that there are routine checks on the premises. This enables him to understand where actions need to be rectified. When needed, action is taken swiftly. Where appropriate, the proprietor uses external professionals to support with the checks he completes on the site.

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Health and safety and fire

There are appropriate fire risk assessments in place. Staff ensure that they implement requirements that are set out in these risk assessments. For example, staff make sure that the site is free from clutter and that fire exits are not obstructed. The proprietor ensures that there are suitable checks on fire equipment, such as the fire alarms, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers. There are clear systems in place for the safe evacuation of the site. Diarised fire drills ensure that pupils and staff understand how to evacuate the site safely.

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Risk assessment

There are appropriate risk assessments in place. The site risk assessment clearly identifies possible risks and the actions that staff should take to mitigate these risks. Individual pupil risk assessments set out strategies to reduce potential incidents. Staff implement risk assessment mitigations effectively.

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Risk assessment

The standards checked in these parts were met at the previous inspection and are likely to be met should the DfE approve the implementation of the material change.

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The recruitment checks made on staff and supply staff

The school has clear procedures in place for the recruitment of staff. Leaders are knowledgeable and experienced in recruitment. They understand how to complete necessary pre-employment checks on new staff. The school uses supply staff only on very rare occasions. Leaders ensure that they complete the appropriate checks when they do use them.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

Leaders accurately record information on the checks they have completed onto the single central record. The proprietor ensures that there are systems to check on the single central record to ensure himself that appropriate checks have been completed. The standards checked in this part were met at the previous inspection and are likely to be met should the DfE approve the implementation of the material change.

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and showers

There are suitable toilet, washing, changing and shower facilities readily available to pupils. Hot water is at an appropriate temperature and does not pose a risk of scalding. The kitchen contains access to clearly labelled drinking water for pupils to use throughout the day.

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Medical room

There is a medical room which is available should pupils need to use it. It contains a sink, a bed and first-aid supplies. It is located near to toilet facilities.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The school site is well maintained. The school currently has two classrooms. These are suitable to accommodate the increased number of pupils the proprietor intends to admit.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Classrooms are adequately resourced. For example, pupils have access to reading books and mathematics equipment to use during lessons. Classrooms are well lit, have appropriate acoustics and are conducive to learning. Pupils have access to appropriate inside communal spaces to use during social times.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The proprietor intends to develop other spaces within the school to provide additional classrooms and extra space for use during social times. This is to further enhance the curriculum on offer, provide smaller spaces for interventions and give pupils more space during lunchtime.

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Outdoor space

Pupils have access to sufficient space outside to use during their social times. The proprietor plans to develop the provision outside to further enhance the space available for pupils during their free time. Pupils access facilities within the local community for physical education sessions. The standards checked in this part were met at the previous inspection and are likely to be met should the DfE approve the implementation of the material change.

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The school’s accessibility plan

There is a suitable accessibility plan that meets the requirements of schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010.

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About this inspection

The inspector carried out this inspection under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. The inspector 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 updated 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 inspection was commissioned by the Department for Education in response to a request from the proprietor for a material change to increase the number of pupils from 12 to 15.

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About this inspection

The inspector met with the proprietor, the headteacher, staff and pupils. He held telephone conversations with a school improvement adviser and a representative from a virtual school the school currently works with.

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About this inspection

The inspector checked the school’s single central record of background checks for adults working at the school. A range of documents relating to safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety and school development were scrutinised. The inspector toured the site.

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About this inspection

This school operates from 1 March Road, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE14 0HA.

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About this inspection

Pupils who attend the school are boys who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. They all have an education, health and care plan related to their social, emotional and mental health needs.

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About this inspection

The school does not currently use any alternative provision.

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Lead inspector

Michael Williams His Majesty’s Inspector

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About this school

Proprietor Jason Wright Headteacher Miss Susan Clark Type of school Other Independent Special School Capacity 12 Number of full-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Number of part-time pupils of compulsory school age on roll Age range of pupils 7 to 16 Gender of pupils Boys Annual fees for day pupils £78,000 Email address susan.clark@chartwellgroup.org.uk services 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 school

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About this school

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About this school

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

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