Seva Education St Albans

Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 1 Seva Education St Albans Hazel Road, Park Street, St Albans AL2 2AH

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report:

Overall outcome The school is likely to meet all the independent school standards if it is registered

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report:

The purpose of this inspection was to advise the Secretary of State for Education about the proposed school’s likely compliance with the independent school standards and associated requirements that are required for registration as an independent school.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out pre-registration inspections of proposed independent schools, we report on the provider’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 a clear commitment to providing the best possible education for the proposed cohort. The proprietor body currently oversees 4 registered schools. Leaders have established clear lines of accountability across the organisation. The head of school will work closely with regional and executive leaders, as well as the managing director. They will meet regularly to review the school’s work, provide support and challenge and maintain close oversight of safeguarding and other key aspects of the provision.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has a secure understanding of the independent school standards (the standards). They will ensure oversight of the standards through the governing body. Leaders at all levels develop understanding of the standards through a robust induction programme. The proprietor has put in place a system whereby school leaders carry out regular audits and checks so that they maintain this Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 2 understanding across the proposed school. These checks will cover all aspects of the standards, including health and safety.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The wellbeing of pupils remains central to the proprietor’s plans. Leaders have designed the proposed school with the intended cohort in mind. This includes a therapeutic offer that will support pupils’ individual needs. Leaders also intend to track pupils’ progress and therapeutic interventions closely so that they can constantly review the impact of the planned support.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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Curriculum

The proposed school has an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum in place. It includes 4 distinct learning pathways that are intended to meet the broad range of needs of the proposed cohort. The curriculum supports pupils from the earliest stages of learning through to ambitious end points. It promotes academic learning. It also promotes pupils’ personal skills. This includes independence, preparation for adulthood and the wider skills that pupils will need to thrive and succeed.

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Curriculum

Leaders have prioritised the foundational core learning of pupils. They have selected a validated phonics programme to support pupils at the early stages of reading. This includes a programme to support those who require pre-phonics learning.

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Curriculum

Leaders have considered pupils’ education, health and care (EHC) plans when designing the curriculum. They intend to work closely with therapeutic specialists to identify and set out pupils’ needs. Leaders intend to record this information in pupils’ provision plans, before using it to develop individual personal learning plans with learning outcomes matched to pupils’ needs.

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Curriculum

The proposed school has also planned a broad personal, social, health and economics education (PSHE) curriculum and a relationships and sex education programme. These curriculum areas will inform pupils how to keep themselves safe.

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Curriculum

Leaders intend to support careers education through a structured programme and links with local business and community organisations. This will include independent careers advice and guidance. They have a well-considered careers policy and curriculum in place to prepare pupils for their next stage. Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 3 The proprietor intends to employ staff and provide appropriate training to them to ensure consistently effective implementation of the school’s curriculum and therapeutic approach. Teachers will be trained to understand and make effective changes to the school’s curriculum to meet pupils’ needs. This includes teaching the range of curriculum pathway models. The specialist therapists within the proprietor body will train all staff on the range of needs that pupils have.

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Assessment

The proposed school intends to use an assessment system to track pupils’ academic and personal development.

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Assessment

Leaders have designed the curriculum with clear sequences of knowledge across each subject. Staff will use assessment to check what pupils know and can do against these planned sequences. This will enable staff to monitor pupils’ progress across the full curriculum, address misconceptions, identify gaps in knowledge and adapt the curriculum if required.

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Assessment

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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pupils

The proposed school has planned a broad and personal development curriculum. Through PSHE education, planned cultural events and wider activities, pupils will learn about fundamental British values at a level that matches their stage of learning.

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pupils

Pupils will learn about different beliefs, cultures and protected characteristics. This will help them to understand, respect and value difference in society. Planned cultural theme days will extend this learning and introduce pupils to a wider range of traditions and communities.

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pupils

The proposed school has also planned a therapeutic approach that will help pupils develop self-awareness. From this, pupils will learn appropriate strategies to manage sensory regulation and challenging emotions.

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pupils

Pupils will learn about healthy relationships, consent and how to keep themselves safe. Leaders also intend to help pupils to develop self-advocacy and communicate their views with confidence. The proposed school has clear plans to present balanced views when teaching pupils. This includes maintaining political impartiality when delivering the school’s curriculum. Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 4 The school has designed a personal development programme that will teach pupils vital life skills. This is a well-designed programme. It focuses on pupils’ independence, communication and social skills. It includes important content for those in key stage 4 to prepare them for their next stage of education, employment or training.

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pupils

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school has clear plans to establish an effective safeguarding culture from the outset. Leaders have implemented robust systems for safeguarding oversight. This includes having a designated safeguarding lead in the school. Safeguarding leads in the wider group, as well as regional leads, will provide the next layer of oversight for safeguarding. This is in addition to the governing body who will prioritise safeguarding as part of their termly meetings and school visits. The proposed school will use an electronic system to record and monitor safeguarding concerns. Staff will receive safeguarding training so that they recognise wider and contextual risks. They will use this knowledge to identify concerns and report them without delay. The proposed school intends to work well alongside local agencies and professionals to ensure pupils and their families get the support they need at the right time.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

The proposed school has a clear behaviour approach detailed in its behaviour policy. There are clear strategies set out to tackle any incidents of bullying in the school’s robust anti-bullying policy. The school has carefully considered appropriate strategies and responses to any incidents of bullying or challenging behaviour. Both policies clearly reflect the needs of the intended cohort.

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Behaviour, anti-bullying and supervision of pupils

Staff will receive training so that they can understand and implement the school’s behaviour approach consistently. Leaders have established clear systems to record and monitor behaviour concerns. The proprietor has also planned appropriate staffing levels for supervision to support pupils’ safety and well-being. Some pupils will receive personalised adult support, where this is required to meet their individual needs.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proposed school has clear systems to manage health and safety. Leaders maintain organised records that show regular checks of water, fire doors, Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 5 emergency lighting and fire safety equipment. The proposed school meets the requirements of the fire safety order 2005. Leaders maintain a suitable fire risk assessment. They address identified actions promptly. The proprietor has established clear oversight of health and safety and first aid. Staff will follow the procedures set out in the school’s policies following a robust period of induction and training on taking up their posts.

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Admissions and attendance

The proposed school has established clear systems to record and monitor pupils’ attendance. Leaders will review attendance regularly so that they identify concerns quickly and take appropriate action. The proposed school has also established admissions records that will capture and maintain all the required information when pupils join the school.

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Risk assessment

The proposed school has a clear risk assessment policy that explains how staff should identify, assess and reduce risk. Leaders have already prepared risk assessment templates that match the expectations set out in the policy. These templates provide clear guidance on the information that staff should record in risk assessments. The proposed school has established a clear approach to managing risk so that staff will assess and review risks consistently.

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Risk assessment

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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

The proprietor has a secure understanding of the checks required before staff begin work at the proposed school. This includes checks for agency staff and for staff who have lived or worked abroad. The proprietor body’s central team completes these checks with oversight from school leaders. Leaders also have clear systems to confirm the identity of agency staff before they begin work at the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The proposed school’s single central record is detailed and well organised. It records all the required pre-employment checks for staff who already work at the proposed school and for those who will join the school.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards. Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 6

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and showers

The proposed school provides suitable toilet, washing and changing facilities for pupils. Drinking water is available throughout the school. Pupils can access fresh drinking water whenever they need it. The proposed school also provides a shower that pupils can use after physical education lessons if they wish.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils’ therapy needs

The proposed school has a suitable medical room. It includes a sink, secure storage for medication and a bed for pupils who need to lie down. The proposed school also provides appropriate spaces for therapeutic support and quiet areas where pupils can regulate and prepare to return to learning.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The proposed school provides a safe, clean and well-maintained environment for pupils. Leaders carry out regular safety checks across the building and take action when required. These checks help ensure that the premises will remain safe and suitable for the intended cohort.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

The proposed school provides suitable learning environments for pupils. Classrooms are well organised and support learning effectively. The building has appropriate natural and artificial lighting. Leaders have also considered the acoustic needs of the intended cohort well. Internal, external and emergency lighting is in place and leaders check it regularly.

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Outdoor space

The proposed school provides extensive outdoor space for pupils. This includes areas for play and physical education. The outdoor provision also extends into a wooded area that offers additional opportunities for sensory experiences and outdoor learning. Leaders maintain these areas well and complete regular tree safety surveys to help ensure that they remain safe for pupils.

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Outdoor space

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards. Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 7

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school does not yet have a website. The proprietor intends to publish a website once the school receives approval to open. All the required policies are already in place and are available on request. These include clear safeguarding, behaviour and anti-bullying policies. Leaders have also prepared a suitable annual report template to share information about pupils’ progress with parents and other stakeholders.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school has appropriate policies for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and for pupils who speak English as an additional language. These policies explain how leaders will work with external agencies to meet pupils’ needs. The proprietor also understands the requirement to publish the school’s academic results and the number of complaints received each year. This information will appear on the website once it is live.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The school understand the need to share information with local authorities regarding the impact of the provision they have funded for pupils registered at the school.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proposed school has a clear and well-structured complaints policy. The policy is available on request and will appear on the school’s website if the school receives approval to open. It sets out each stage of the complaints process and the timescales that apply.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proprietor body’s central team will maintain complaints records. School leaders will have access to these records. The proprietor and governors will review complaints to ensure that leaders follow the policy consistently.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The school is likely to meet this part of the standards.

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The school’s accessibility plan

The school has an appropriately written accessibility plan which demonstrates how pupils with a range of needs can access the school facilities, curriculum and wider opportunities. The accessibility plan aligns with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 8

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, 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

The proprietor for this school is SEVA Education, Health and Care LTD. The proprietor currently has 4 other registered provisions in London and the East region. The chair of the proprietor body is Peter Behan.

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About this inspection

This proposed school is located at the following address: Hazel Road, Park Street, St Albans, AL2 2AH Pupils who will attend the proposed school will have a range of needs. This will include autism, moderate learning needs and associated comorbidities. All pupils will have an EHC plan.

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About this inspection

The proprietor does not intend to use alternative provision.

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About this proposed school

Proprietor Seva Education, Health and Care Ltd Headteacher Not Known Type of school Other independent special school Capacity 60

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compulsory school age on roll

Provider’s current position: 0 Provider’s proposal: 60

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disabilities on roll

Provider’s current position: 0 Provider’s proposal: 60

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authority

Provider’s current position: 0 Provider’s proposal: 60 Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 9 Age range of pupils Provider’s current position: N/A Provider’s proposal: 5 to 16 Gender of pupils Provider’s current position: N/A Provider’s proposal: Mixed

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per week

Provider’s current position: N/A Provider’s proposal: 27.5

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per week

Provider’s current position: N/A Provider’s proposal: 25

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teaching staff

Provider’s current position: 1 Provider’s proposal: 15 Annual fees for day pupils £66,000 Email address governors@sevaeducation.com Seva Education St Albans, 22 July 2026 10 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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teaching staff

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teaching staff

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teaching staff

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