East Hall School

East Hall School, 8 May 2026 1 East Hall School The Calf House, East Hall Farm, St Pauls Walden, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 8DL

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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 maximum number of pupils attending.

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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 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 and school leaders have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in complying with the independent school standards (the standards). They have in place robust systems and processes that ensure these standards are consistently met. This includes also seeking external quality assurance of these standards. The proprietor takes an active role in overseeing the school and in keeping up to date with any changes to the standards. They know the provision well. They hold leaders to account effectively. The proprietor and leaders have carefully considered the impact on existing pupils and staff of the East Hall School, 8 May 2026 2 proposed increase in numbers on roll. They have ensured that this will be in the best interests of current and new pupils. The proprietor has also ensured that the existing leadership team has the capacity to manage the changes intended. In addition, the school has recruited 2 new staff and are in the process of advertising

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

for a new role of a deputy headteacher. Staff are well-supported to carry out their roles. Staff report how well leaders continue to consider their wellbeing and workload. Staff are supportive of the increase in capacity planned as they feel that they have the knowledge and skills to manage this change and that it will also improve the social needs of the pupils they serve.

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Safeguarding

The school has ensured that its safeguarding policy is in date, compliant and published on the school’s website.

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Safeguarding

The school ensures that pupils’ welfare is at the centre of its work. The staff are knowledgeable about each pupil’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. Leaders ensure all staff have the information they need to support all pupils well and care for them. Leaders and staff are well-trained in knowing how to identify any safeguarding concerns. They make appropriate referrals to external agencies, including for mental health support. The school engages positively with parents and carers about pupils’ welfare needs, suggesting strategies to also keep pupils safe outside of school. Leaders act swiftly and appropriately when concerns are raised. Pupils speak very positively about how the school keeps them safe and teaches them about risks, including online safety and personal safety. They trust the adults to help them. The school also seeks out annual external audits of its safeguarding processes for quality assurance.

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Safeguarding

Pupils are allowed their mobile phones in school. Leaders have carefully considered the recent non-statutory government guidance on mobile phones. Allowing them access to their phones is a reasonable adjustment linked to their social, emotional and mental health needs. However, the school has appropriate safeguards in place to ensure pupils use their phones safely on site. They do not access the internet through these devices and there are clear rules over when and how mobiles can be used. This is within the school’s behaviour policy. Pupils and staff know these rules and follow them.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The school has a thorough health and safety policy in place. It implements this effectively. Staff have the necessary training to carry out the required checks to East Hall School, 8 May 2026 3 comply to health and safety standards. The proprietor ensures that fire risk assessments are up to date and compliant. Any action recommended by health and safety external agencies are acted upon swiftly. Staff have the necessary first aid training required to meet the current number of pupils on roll and the additional pupils planned for. The 2 new classrooms intended for the increased capacity have been included in these health and safety checks. These new rooms all have emergency exits, fire doors and fire extinguishers.

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Risk assessment

The risk assessment process is robust and followed as intended. There are clear risk management systems in place for all aspects of the school’s work. These include ensuring pupils are adequately supervised on site and at off-site activities, such as when attending external sports facilities, when at the alternative provision adjacent to the school or when using school transport. There are also suitable strategies in place to support and manage risks for specific pupils who may need extra support. The school has also ensured that appropriate staff to pupil ratios can be maintained should the increase to planned capacity go ahead.

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

The proprietor and leaders ensure that these checks are thorough and meet the statutory guidance. Leaders, including the proprietor, are trained in safer recruitment and apply this knowledge when taking on new staff. Staff only start at the school when all these checks have taken place and raise no concerns. This includes any overseas checks. The school does not currently use any supply staff; however, leaders know the processes to follow should this be the case. There has been no change to the proprietor since the school opened.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The single central record is compliant. It is kept up to date and checked by leaders and the proprietor regularly.

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and showers

The current toilet and washing facilities are suitable for the proposed intake of additional pupils that this material change is proposing. The 2 new classrooms are situated near to these facilities. The existing and new classrooms are modern, recently built and designed to a high specification. Pupils access drinking water East Hall School, 8 May 2026 4 from a shared pupil ‘common room’ that is always accessible. There are no showers at the school, but these are provided at the external sports facilities the school uses. However, there are suitable areas in school for pupils to use to change if needed.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The medical room is suitable and compliant. It is not often used as pupils here do not have any significant or complex medical needs that require specific need to use this room. The school does have ample room to support pupils’ therapeutic needs. The new classrooms add to this space and will easily accommodate the additional 6 pupils intended. The school offers social spaces and chill-out rooms and has access to large outdoor space and fields, due to its farm location. The school’s main therapeutic space comes from the outdoor alternative provision right next door to the school. This is owned by the same proprietor as the school. All pupils attend this provision for a part of the therapeutic offer. It is more than adequately sized to accommodate the additional capacity the school intends to take on.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The school site and buildings, including the 2 new classrooms, are well- maintained, modern and built to a high standard. Access to the site is secure. The school is on the site of a farm. However, all the classrooms are new prefabricated buildings, linked to a small courtyard. The pathways have recently been tarmacked so are safe and easy to walk on. Car parking is separate to the school so school transport and taxis can pick up and drop off pupils with sufficient safe space and away from the main building. Internal classrooms are well-decorated and suitably furnished. Any internal rooms have doors that do not lock and have windows on doors so all pupils and staff can be seen at all times. Any hazardous materials or medicines, if in school, are kept in locked cupboards.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

All classrooms, including the 2 new classrooms, are all light and airy. They are sufficiently sound-proofed so that pupils are not disturbed when learning. There is adequate outdoor lighting for the school courtyard area.

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Outdoor space

As the school is situated on a farm, there is ample access to fields and secure, fenced off open spaces. There is more than enough room to accommodate the increase in number on roll. Pupils are appropriately supervised when using this outdoor space. East Hall School, 8 May 2026 5

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 162(4) of the Education Act 2002, 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 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

The focus of this inspection was in response to the school’s request for a material change to increase its capacity from 16 pupils to 22.

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About this inspection

The school caters for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs. All pupils have an education, health and care plan.

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About this inspection

The school uses 2 unregistered alternative providers.

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About this inspection

The lead inspector spoke with the proprietor, the headteacher, senior leaders, staff and pupils during the inspection. The lead inspector also reviewed the site and paperwork relating to the independent school standards asked to review for this material change.

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About this school

Proprietor East Hall School Ltd Headteacher Laura Perry Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 16

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 14 to 17 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £80 000 East Hall School, 8 May 2026 6 Email address laura@easthallschool.org East Hall School, 8 May 2026 7 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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