Children's Home run by Aspris New Education Services Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 1 SC443959 Registered provider: Aspris New Education Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to 8 children with learning disabilities, of whom up to 3 can be cared for on a short break basis.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2012.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 6 children were living in the home, and 1 child was accessing short-break services. The inspector spent time with 4 children during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2026 Full Good 03/12/2024 Full Outstanding 12/03/2024 Full Good 02/03/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 3

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Summary of findings

This inspection was brought forward in response to specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Summary of findings

Children continue to make positive progress in many areas of their lives and benefit from living in a well-maintained, nurturing home where their health, education and independence are promoted effectively. They enjoy a range of activities, attend school regularly, and are supported by staff who receive thorough training and supervision.

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Summary of findings

The manager is experienced, committed to improving outcomes for children and has introduced several developments to strengthen communication and staff engagement. However, weaknesses in safeguarding practice and management oversight have resulted in some significant concerns not being responded to effectively.

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Summary of findings

Shortfalls in the management of allegations, information sharing, supervision arrangements and recording systems have reduced the home's ability to demonstrate that children consistently receive a good standard of help and protection.

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improvement to be good

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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improvement to be good

There have been no changes to the children living in the home since the last inspection and children continue to live with each other happily.

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improvement to be good

Children are encouraged and supported to develop their independence skills and they are all making progress in this area in line with their abilities. However, it is not always clear or evident how children’s views, wishes and feelings are sought. This is a missed opportunity to continue to develop children’s communication skills and ensure that they have the opportunity and support to provide feedback on their care.

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improvement to be good

When children self-injure or sustain an injury, staff respond appropriately by seeking medical advice and treatment when needed. However, on one occasion staff could not determine how a child had sustained an injury, as the child had not been supervised in accordance with their agreed plans.

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improvement to be good

The home is a large, detached property that is maintained to a high standard. Due to some children’s complex needs, including behaviours such as attempting to eat non-food items the manager carries out daily environmental checks, ensuring that the home is clean and safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 4 There are several communal areas throughout the home that are welcoming and personalised with colourful murals, artwork and photographs of the children. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their preferences and interests.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, several improvements have been made to the property, including the installation of new flooring throughout, redecoration and bathroom refurbishments. Additionally, a new kitchen was being installed at the time of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

All the children go to school and have good attendance. Six children attend the school run by the provider, this supports with consistency and the sharing of resources. Additionally, the manager has been able to successfully challenge decisions in the best interests of the children.

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improvement to be good

Children have fun experiences and there are lots of activities on offer. Invitations are also extended to families. This means that families can enjoy activities with their children they may not have been able to previously. One parent commented that their confidence had improved when going into the community with their child.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, several significant concerns have been raised about staff practice. The manager has not maintained sufficiently strong oversight to identify and respond to these issues effectively. As a result, children have not always received safe or well co-ordinated care.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not consistently ensure that visitors confirm their identity before being welcomed into the home. This increases the risk of unauthorised individuals gaining access to the home.

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improvement to be good

Several allegations have been raised about staff by both their colleagues and a parent. The manager has not consistently ensured that relevant professionals and parents were informed of the details of these concerns or kept updated on the progress of investigations. In addition, one allegation was not thoroughly investigated, and the local authority designated officer was not always kept informed when allegations were made. These shortfalls in oversight and communication have the potential to impact children’s safety.

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improvement to be good

Incidents have reduced overall and the manager has oversight of incident data to draw conclusions and develop children’s plans. Staff have used restraint on occasions, and the manager has assessed each incident as being appropriate and the least restrictive.

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improvement to be good

Not all instances of mechanical restraint are being appropriately recorded this limits oversight and benefits of use. However, the manager remains committed to reducing the use of mechanical restraints wherever this can be achieved safely. This approach has led to positive outcomes for children. For example, one child has successfully stopped using Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 5 a safe space bed and now sleeps in a standard bed. This is a significant achievement that promotes independence and supports the child’s preparation for adulthood.

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improvement to be good

The manager follows appropriate safer recruitment processes which reduce the risk of unsuitable people working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is suitably experienced, qualified and specialises in supporting children with autism. They are supported by a strong team of senior staff, some of whom have worked at the home for many years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff say that they feel supported and that they receive regular supervision sessions. Supervision records clearly show the staff’s reflection and contribution to each session. Any minor practice issues are quickly addressed and recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has not always shared important information with parents and professionals. For example, when an unknown substance was found in the home. This impacts the parents and placing authorities’ oversight of the experiences of their children living in the home and any incidents that could have compromised their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive a thorough induction when they start work in the home. In addition to completing relevant training courses, new staff work alongside experienced staff to develop their skills and confidence in supporting children. This includes observing key aspects of children’s care, followed by supervised practice and feedback to ensure they are fully competent before taking responsibility for tasks, such as supporting children’s routines and personal care. This structured approach helps to ensure that staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Children’s records are not always kept in good order and the content of these can be limited and difficult to read. The organisation will be introducing an online system, and it is hoped by the manager that this will address these issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager holds regular team meetings and has recently revised the format to ensure that all staff members can receive updates, contribute to discussions, and provide feedback. In addition, the manager uses management briefings between team meetings to communicate important information promptly with the staff team. This helps to ensure that staff remain informed and able to provide consistent care and support to children as well as addressing any concerns with staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and The ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered manager ensuring that unknown visitors to the home are always asked to show their identification.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all allegations are identified and managed appropriately. 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 7 Furthermore, the registered person must ensure that all allegations are reported to the local authority designated officer.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that children are supervised appropriately in line with agreements with the placing authority and children’s plans.

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Requirement Due date

The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

develop positive relationships with them;

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Requirement Due date

take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ascertain and consider each child’s views, wishes and feelings, and balance these against what they judge to be in the child’s best interests when making decisions about the child’s care and welfare;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that all children, despite their communication difficulties, are supported and encouraged to share their views wishes and feelings. 28 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 28 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 8 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the registered person ensuring that they share important information with parents and placing authorities and that this information is factual and clear.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to the registered person ensuring that children’s records are kept in good order and that they are legible and appropriately reflect the children’s experiences.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child has an EHC plan or statement of special educational needs in which a specific type of restraint is provided for use as part of the child’s day-to-day routine, the home is exempted from the recording requirement in regulation (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.61)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aspris New Education Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC443959 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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