Wirral Wrap

Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 1 Wirral Wrap Summerhill House, Beechwood Drive, Beechwood, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH43 9LB

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report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the material changes relating to the school provision are 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 and 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 has an appropriate knowledge of the independent school standards (the standards). The proprietor has given careful consideration to the aspects of the standards that relate to changing the age range of pupils attending the school from 11 to 16 to 7 to 16. This includes the design of the curriculum. The proprietor has planned for the proposed further increase to the number of pupils that the school will admit. This includes establishing a sufficient number of additional classrooms, which have been furnished to the required standard. These Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 2 classrooms are located within the same building currently used by the school. The proprietor has also considered the staffing arrangements required to ensure an adequate number of teachers will be in post, should the number of pupils increase. These teachers have prior experience of teaching pupils in key stage 2. The proprietor is committed to providing a high quality of education and actively

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that all the standards checked during this inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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Curriculum

The proprietor has designed an appropriate curriculum that meets the educational needs of key stage 2 pupils. This curriculum is well sequenced and prepares pupils for the key stage 3 curriculum content. The proprietor has also considered the fact that some key stage 2 pupils may join the school with gaps in their knowledge that stem from key stage 1 content. As such, the curriculum has been designed to cover important knowledge from Year 1 onwards so that teachers have the information they need to address any gaps in learning. This includes phonics, where leaders have put in place an appropriate programme of study.

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Teaching

The proprietor has ensured that should the change in age range of pupils be approved, there are teachers currently at the school, who have sufficient experience of teaching key stage 2 curriculum content. These members of staff are also experienced in teaching pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

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Assessment

The proprietor has considered the range of assessments that would take place during the transition of any key stage 2 pupils into the school. Assessment approaches would help to identify what pupils know and where they may have gaps in their key stage 1 and key stage 2 knowledge. Furthermore, appropriate consideration has been given to how pupils’ ongoing personal and academic progress will be monitored. Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 3

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pupils

The proprietor has put in place appropriate policies and curriculum content to support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of pupils aged 7 and above. It ensures that pupils sufficiently cover content linked to relationships, fundamental British values and characteristics that are protected by law. Furthermore, it sets out aspects of learning to develop pupils’ wider understanding about the different cultures that make up modern day Britain. The SMSC content has been designed to provide pupils with the knowledge and understanding they need in readiness for what is covered in key stage 3.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has followed current statutory guidance in the development of arrangements to keep pupils safe. There is a suitable and up-to-date safeguarding policy in place, which is published on the school’s website. There are effective arrangements to keep pupils safe and to promote their welfare. The proprietor has been proactive in seeking ongoing external moderation of the school’s approaches to safeguarding to ensure that it continues to be effective.

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Safeguarding

Staff responsible for leading safeguarding have been trained to the required level. The designated safeguarding lead is supported well by the deputy safeguarding lead. Timely action is taken to record and respond to any safeguarding concerns.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is an up-to-date health and safety policy in place. The policy is adhered to and is suitable should the proposed material change be granted. The proprietor has ensured that the school complies with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Regular fire safety checks of the premises are carried out and appropriately logged. The additional classrooms that have been established have the same required fire safety features as the rest of the school. This includes clear fire evacuation signage, emergency lighting and access to fire extinguishers.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is a suitable first-aid policy in place. An appropriate number of staff have relevant first-aid qualifications, including paediatric first aid. Furthermore, there is safe storage of medication, coupled with effective record-keeping for the administration of first aid and/or medication. Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 4

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has prioritised the welfare of pupils. They have ensured that necessary steps are taken to reduce risks to pupils and staff. For example, there is an appropriate risk assessment policy in place. Risk assessments have been updated and amended to reflect key stage 2 pupils. These include risk assessments for classrooms, the playground and for external trips and visits. For instance, the proprietor has designed the school timetable to ensure that pupils in key stage 2 have their breaktime and lunchtime at different points of the day from those pupils in key stages 3 and 4. They have also ensured that pupils in key stage 2 would be taught on a separate floor of the building from those in key stages 3 and 4.

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Risk assessment

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in Part 3 that were checked during the inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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

The proprietor has a detailed understanding of the standards in relation to the suitability of staff. They have ensured that all necessary checks are made on staff and supply staff prior to their employment at the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

A single central record is in place and contains up-to-date information of all the necessary pre-employment checks. This is stored electronically. Records relating to the proprietor are included in the single central record. All the suitability checks, including those related to the leadership and management of the school, have been carried out. This includes those checks required under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008. The proprietor has completed appropriate safer recruitment training to support the appointment of suitable staff to work in the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in Part 4 that were checked during the inspection are likely to continue to be met if the material change is approved.

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and showers

The proprietor has ensured that there are an appropriate number of toilets and washing facilities to meet the proposed increase in pupil numbers. These facilities Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 5 are decorated to a suitable standard and include a toilet with disabled access. There is an adequate supply of hot and cold water. The temperature of the hot water does not pose a scalding risk to users.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

There is a suitable dedicated medical room in the school. It contains a bed, washing facilities and appropriately stocked first-aid kits. There is a toilet immediately next door to this room. The proprietor is in the process of establishing a sensory space for key stage 2 pupils. At the time of the inspection, there were no pupils attending the school who required a specialist room to meet therapeutic needs.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The premises are clean, tidy and maintained to a suitable standard. They do not pose a risk to the health of pupils and staff. Where parts of the building are shared with another provider, these are secure and do not allow access to the school and the pupils.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Throughout the building there are appropriate acoustics, lighting and heating. This helps pupils to be able to focus on their learning. There is external lighting to ensure that pupils, staff, parents and carers can enter and leave the site safely in the hours of darkness.

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Outdoor space

The proprietor has ensured that there is a suitable and secure outdoor space for pupils to play in when they are not in lessons. This space is maintained to a high standard and allows pupils to play a range of different games. Playtimes are sufficiently well staffed to oversee the safety and wellbeing of pupils.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school has an appropriate accessibility plan in place which ensures that schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 is met.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The proprietor has ensured that the standards in Part 5 that were checked during the inspection are met if the material change is approved. Wirral Wrap, 14 July 2026 6

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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. 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 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 focus of the inspection was to explore whether the school would meet the required independent school standards for increasing the maximum number of pupils on roll from 32 to 64. Additionally, it looked at whether the school would meet the required independent school standards for changing the age range of pupils from 11 to 16 to 7 to 16.

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About this inspection

Inspection activities: The inspector spoke with the proprietor and the headteacher during the inspection, as well as staff.

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About this school

Proprietor Wrap (Wirral) CIC Headteacher Mr Matthew Pennington Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 32

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 11 to 16 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £41,800 - £78,127 Email address referrals@wirralwrap.org Wirral Wrap, 14 July 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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compulsory school age on roll

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

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