Safe Start School

Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication Safe Start School 1, 2, 4 & 5 Henry Square Chambers, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester OL6 7ST

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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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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 age range of pupils.

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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 (the 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 understands the requirements to meet the standards and has generally considered the key actions needed to expand to the 11-19 age range well. For example, the proprietor has given careful thought to the delivery of the post-16 programme and timetable to meet the needs of older pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders have the knowledge and capability needed to run the school effectively and to manage the proposed material change. Their experience in supporting Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication pupils with additional needs and their commitment to maintaining a safe and positive environment indicates that they are well placed to support older students’ welfare. If the change is approved, the proprietor intends to expand the staff team to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and expertise to deliver the post-16 programme of study.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has planned carefully for the anticipated change in age range. This includes reviewing curriculum options and shaping work experience opportunities and life skills sessions to ensure that pupils develop readiness for adulthood. There is an increased rigour in governance and oversight of leaders’ actions. Leaders commission external audits to check that decisions about recruitment and safeguarding are well founded. They have also begun to take steps to refine how safeguarding and recruitment records are held. This ensures that there is clearer and more accurate reporting.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and governors bring relevant expertise to their roles. This enables them to manage the proposed change with confidence. For example, some governors and leaders have worked in further education and therefore have detailed understanding of the needs for students in post-16 provision. Leaders demonstrate that the decision to extend the age range is in the best interest of pupils.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that the standard in this part is likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Curriculum

Leaders have established clear pathways and programmes of study to align with the proposed extension to the age range of the school’s pupils. Leaders have outlined a broad and ambitious curriculum that builds carefully on pupils’ prior learning and develops knowledge in increasing depth and complexity. For example, leaders have considered various accreditations and qualifications that pupils will complete across key stage 4 and 5.

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Curriculum

For some subjects, leaders use published schemes of work and adapt these to ensure that they meet the needs of pupils with education health and care plans (EHCPs). For most subjects, the schemes of work are detailed and identify the key knowledge that pupils should learn. Leaders take sufficient account of pupils’ low starting points and additional needs to ensure that the proposed post-16 curriculum is appropriate. In a small number of subjects, leaders are continuing to develop the schemes of work. They are in the process of recruiting subject experts to ensure consistency and high quality. Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication Leaders have broadened the qualifications and accreditation on offer to ensure that post-16 students are set up well for their next steps. If delivered well, this will ensure that pupils develop the skills and knowledge that they need to progress

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Curriculum

onto successful further education, training and employment

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Teaching

The proprietor plans to appoint 3 additional staff to ensure there is enough expertise to deliver the full key stage 5 curriculum. Current staff have the skills and experience to teach most of the post ‑ 16 offer. Leaders have chosen teaching approaches that meet pupils’ social, emotional and mental health needs. This includes methods that help pupils to re ‑ engage and learn with confidence.

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Teaching

Teachers will have clear guidance on what to teach and how to sequence subject content. Leaders have invested in resources to support delivery. For example, they have sourced materials for the life ‑ skills curriculum to help pupils to develop the knowledge they need for independent living. These preparations give staff the structure that they need to teach consistently well.

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Teaching

Leaders place pupils’ needs at the centre of curriculum planning. They have considered how to support pupils with weak literacy or disrupted learning. For instance, leaders have planned support programmes that reflect pupils’ starting points and barriers to learning. As a result, there is enough assurance that, if taught as intended, the curriculum will help pupils to make progress across the proposed 11 to 19 age range.

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Assessment

Leaders have set out a clear approach to assessment for pupils across the full proposed 11 to 19 age range. Leaders intend to extend the current assessment strategies for identifying pupils’ starting points to the post-16 provision. This will enable staff to determine pupils’ readiness to complete different accreditations and qualification pathways. In addition, leaders have invested in suitable tools to check pupils’ numeracy and literacy skills to identify any further support that pupils may need.

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Assessment

Leaders have thought carefully about how to assess and support pupils with additional needs. When a pupil joins the school, staff look at the information in the education, health and care (EHC) plan and talk with families to understand what the pupil finds difficult and what helps them to learn. This early work helps staff decide whether the school can meet the pupil’s needs and what support should be in place from the start. Leaders intend to apply this same practice to the proposed key stage 5.

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Assessment

These arrangements provide sufficient assurance that teachers will be able to check progress accurately and use assessment to inform teaching for the proposed age range. Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication The standards in this part are likely to be met, if the material change is approved.

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pupils

Leaders have designed a broad and purposeful programme to promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The personal, social, health and economic education curriculum gives pupils regular opportunities to learn about different beliefs, traditions and cultural practices. Planned activities help pupils to understand key values such as respect, tolerance and the responsibilities of living in modern Britain. This includes explicit teaching about all protected characteristics to meet the requirements of the Equalities Act 2010. Pupils deepen their understanding of diversity through visits to places of worship and celebrations of key religious and cultural events.

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pupils

Leaders have plans to promote pupils’ wider development across the 11 to 19 age range. They plan to extend the enrichment and events calendars so that pupils experience a rich mix of cultural and community activities. This includes trips to the Houses of Parliament, residential visits, outdoor learning, charity events and student ‑ led initiatives such as the school council.

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pupils

Leaders have clear strategies to support post-16 students who have missed education or lost confidence. They plan to offer work experience, creative workshops and life ‑ skills sessions, such as travel training, to help students to build resilience. This programme should prepare post-16 students well for adulthood.

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pupils

These arrangements indicate that the standards are likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has put in place safeguarding arrangements that follow current statutory guidance. The safeguarding policy is up to date and suitable for the school’s context. It is also likely to remain appropriate if the proposed material change is approved.

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Safeguarding

All new staff complete a structured induction. This includes safeguarding training and frequent updates on key risks within the community such as substance abuse. At the time of the inspection, many recently appointed staff had already completed this training. Those who lead safeguarding have completed the required higher ‑ level training and understand their responsibilities clearly. Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication Staff understand how to report safeguarding concerns. Leaders commission external safeguarding audits and act promptly when action is required. For instance, leaders are improving how they record key actions so that it is consistently clear what support pupils receive and how well concerns are followed up.

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Safeguarding

The standard in this part is likely to be met should the material change be approved.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor makes the safeguarding policy available to parents on the school’s website. This ensures that families can access the information that they need.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The standard in this part is likely to be met if the material change is approved.

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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 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 DfE commissioned this inspection in response to the school’s material change application to increase the age range to 11 to 19 years.

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About this inspection

This was the first material change inspection since the standard inspection in January 2025.

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About this inspection

The inspector met with the headteacher and other staff. She also spoke to a group of pupils.

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About this inspection

The inspector met with the chair of the proprietor body and the executive director of the school. She also spoke to a representative from the local authority and the chair of governors.

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About this inspection

The inspector looked at a wide variety of documentation in relation to the standards checked. Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication The inspection also considered the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including the single central record of pre-employment checks and whether the school’s safeguarding policy is available to parents and carers. These requirements of the independent school standards are met.

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About this inspection

The inspector confirmed the following information about the school:

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About this inspection

All pupils who attend this school have special educational needs and/or disabilities. All have an education, health, and care plan. Pupils’ needs include social, emotional, and mental health needs and autism.

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About this inspection

The school uses two registered alternative provisions.

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About this inspection

The school operates from premises at 1, 2, 4 & 5 Henry Square Chambers, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester, OL6 7ST.

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About this inspection

The school currently has an agreed capacity with the DfE for 38 pupils.

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About this inspection

The proprietor is Safestart School Limited. The chair of the proprietor body is Rachel Pilling and the chair of governors is Jullie Morrish.

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About this school

Proprietor Safestart School Ltd Headteacher Ms Kate Collins Type of school Other independent school Capacity 38

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils Provider's current position: 11-16 Provider's proposal: 11-19 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £34,200 to £48,000 Email address admin@safestartschooltameside.com Safe Start School, 12 May 2026 Draft and confidential - Not for disclosure or publication 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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compulsory school age on roll

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compulsory school age on roll

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compulsory school age on roll

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