Trafford Alternative Education Provision

Trafford Alternative Education Provision Brentwood Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA14 1SR

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monitoring inspection report:

The inspection was carried out because concerns had been raised with Ofsted about the extent to which the school kept pupils safe. In addition, concerns had been raised about the conduct and attendance of pupils.

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monitoring inspection report:

During the focused monitoring inspection, inspectors considered the following evaluation areas:

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monitoring inspection report:

 Safeguarding  Leadership and governance  Attendance and behaviour

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Safeguarding standards met

The safeguarding standards are met. This means that leaders and/or those responsible for governance and oversight fulfil their responsibilities and have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and concerns are actively identified, acted upon and managed. As a result, children are made safer and feel safe.

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Leadership and governance

Leaders have a clear and detailed understanding of the school’s work and the challenges facing the provision. They have taken prompt and targeted action in response to the concerns raised. Leaders ensure that staff receive the training that they need to keep children safe. They have worked with the local authority to strengthen their processes for assessing risks. For example, they have enhanced procedures for the management of offsite visits, reviewed risk assessment documents and begun to establish clearer parameters for ‘near-miss’ reporting.

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Leadership and governance

Leaders work with a wide range of other agencies to secure the help that pupils need. They are proactive in seeking out specialist support and wider opportunities for pupils. This Monitoring Inspection report: Trafford Alternative Education Provision, 28 April

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work is focused on creating a recipe for each pupil that helps them to complete a successful placement at the school prior to moving into other provision.

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Governors receive detailed information about the performance of the school. This includes safeguarding, attendance and behaviour matters. The governing body maintains a meaningful oversight of this complex provision. Governors provide appropriate challenge and support. Leaders, including governors, understand their context and make decisions in the best interests of pupils.

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Attendance and behaviour

Leaders have a detailed and personalised knowledge of the attendance of every pupil. Some pupils join with no previous attendance at school due to the complex nature of their needs. Leaders use a range of strategies to encourage and improve attendance. These include daily contact with home, ‘safe and well’ visits, personalised timetables and an enrichment programme designed to motivate pupils who find coming to school especially difficult. These strategies, alongside the recently introduced ‘First Steps’ programme, are beginning to secure positive engagement from pupils who had previously not attended school.

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Attendance and behaviour

Leaders have set out clear expectations for pupils’ conduct. They have ensured that there are sufficient staff in place to supervise pupils throughout the school day. Staff demonstrate care in their interactions with pupils. They build positive relationships with pupils and generally make effective use of de-escalation strategies. Pupils are comfortable in the presence of staff and among their peers.

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Attendance and behaviour

Overall, pupils follow the routines and expectations of staff. This includes when they arrive at the school in the morning and hand in their mobile devices. While there are moments when individual pupils make the wrong choices, staff respond to these situations appropriately. Inspectors observed no serious misbehaviour during the inspection.

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About this inspection

This inspection was conducted under section 8(2) of the Education Act 2005 and in accordance with Ofsted’s published procedures for focused monitoring inspections.

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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 inspection team spoke to one member of the local governing body, 4 senior leaders, including the headteacher, 11 members of staff and 14 pupils.

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About this inspection

The name of the headteacher is Linda Thompson.

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About this inspection

The inspectors confirmed the following information about the school:

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About this inspection

Many pupils have an education, health and care plan. The main area of need is social, emotional and mental health. Monitoring Inspection report: Trafford Alternative Education Provision, 28 April

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The school currently makes use of 9 alternative provisions, including 8 that are unregistered.

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The recorded number of pupils on roll does not fully reflect the number of pupils who attend the school. This is because the school provides education for pupils who are placed by the local authority for medical reasons. Typically, these pupils access Trafford Medical Education Service in a separate part of the building. Some of these pupils are on roll at the school but access tuition elsewhere.

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Team inspector

Victoria Burnside His Majesty’s Inspector Monitoring Inspection report: Trafford Alternative Education Provision, 28 April

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About this school

Number of pupils on roll 95 Monitoring Inspection report: Trafford Alternative Education Provision, 28 April

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

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