Oundle School Mencap Holidays

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 1 Oundle Mencap Holidays

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Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This holiday scheme caters for up to 40 children with learning and physical disabilities.

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Overall experience and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 5 August 2025

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 2

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Summary of findings

The holiday scheme has been successfully operating for decades, with the senior leadership team playing a key role throughout its history. It is held at the same school each year, which provides excellent facilities for children and volunteers. Although accommodation was arranged in different houses across the site this year, the arrangements were very well managed.

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Summary of findings

Volunteers are very well prepared and motivated for their roles by an experienced and skilled leadership team. Leaders are thorough, child focused and committed to providing children with the best possible holiday experience.

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Summary of findings

Children and families speak highly of the scheme and describe it as a highlight of the year. Families value the experience so highly that they believe similar opportunities should be available to others. Leaders also provide support and guidance to those wishing to establish similar schemes, which is commendable. The organisation and coordination required to deliver the holiday are substantial, and leaders demonstrate exceptional planning and preparation. As a result, they create a safe, inclusive environment in which children thrive.

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outstanding

Children have amazing experiences on this holiday and they keep coming back. The children love spending time with friends and the independence being on the holiday gives them.

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outstanding

Parents give overwhelmingly positive feedback about their children’s experiences on this holiday. One parent said, ‘The best week of their year without doubt. Even better than Christmas.’ The holiday makes a significant difference to the lives of children as they thrive, grow in confidence and make friends. Children have fun during the days, through painting, swimming, sharing meals, singing and soft play as well as riding rollercoasters to name just one day’s worth of activities.

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outstanding

Children receive an exceptional level of care. Leaders ensure that highly effective care planning supports the individual needs of children and supports less experienced volunteers to understand and support each of them successfully. Children respond to and trust the volunteers, who ensure that children have amazing experiences and create lasting memories.

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outstanding

The holiday theme this year is space. Children enjoy a mobile planetarium on site, swim in the pool, ride rollercoasters, and practice space-themed arts and crafts. Children have amazing new experiences alongside familiar favourites. Leaders create Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 3 a bespoke programme for some children to enable them to participate at their own pace. Children capture their memories and mementos in space-themed diaries.

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outstanding

Volunteers are trained in how to communicate with each child. They use each child’s individual communication tools and are skilled in engaging the children. ‘Kid’s plans’ detail what support they need to express their views, and the support staff should give.

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outstanding

Leaders and volunteers prepared children well for a change of buildings this year as the usual houses are refurbished. Social stories were sent out in advance and offers of visits have been in place for children who need it. Additional signage has been put up throughout the building. Familiar volunteers work in small groups with children to provide consistency to the children.

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outstanding

Children create space-themed diaries each day and these include social stories of daily activities, pictures and mementoes of their time. These are put together alongside video clips, which creates beautiful memories for the children to look back on and an invaluable tool for families to talk with their children about their experience, particularly for children who do not use words to speak. One child said that they have their diaries from previous years and looks at them often.

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outstanding

Leaders understand children’s complex health needs and share this information with volunteers through clear plans that include contingencies and detail the signs and symptoms volunteers should look for. Named staff who know the children well oversee their care. Leaders ensure that they have the most up-to-date health information before the holiday, working closely with parents to create plans and providing key training for experienced staff to support children.

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outstanding

Medication and health needs are very well managed. Even in the short period children attend for care, medical leads work with them to understand the medication they are taking and what it is for. This helps them understand the importance of medication and prepares them for the future.

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outstanding

Leaders have reflected on an unforeseen incident from the previous holiday where a child wandered outside. Leaders have worked with the school and family to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place. They have also used visual supports in all children’s bedrooms and ensured that familiar night helpers support the child. The thoughtful work leaders have done with the child has been effective.

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outstanding

A strong safeguarding culture is at the heart of this holiday scheme. The volunteers complete safeguarding training before the holiday and several leaders are trained as safeguarding leads. This supports good oversight and offers support to the volunteers. Leaders use a quiz to refresh staff knowledge and skills before the holiday. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 4 Leaders ensure that experienced staff are trained to support children safely and provide children with comfort and support if they are upset. Leaders and volunteers seek to avoid physical interventions and understand that clear communication is key to supporting children. Bespoke plans include sensory input and visual prompts to help support communication. Where an intervention takes place, leaders complete thorough debriefs and put effective plans in place to avoid further incidents.

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outstanding

Families have confidence in the leaders and volunteers at the holiday scheme. Strong communication, effective planning and training increase children’s safety. Children feel safe and know they can talk to volunteers and leaders if they have any worries. Leaders consider risks thoroughly but allow the children to have new and exciting experiences during the holiday. This leads to a fun and safe holiday for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager, responsible individual and senior leaders of this unique and inclusive holiday scheme demonstrate exceptional commitment to the children. The children’s families benefit immensely. They dedicate significant time throughout the year, on a voluntary basis, to ensure the scheme is well planned and safe. Detailed risk assessments reflect their strong knowledge and expertise. Their enthusiasm and dedication inspire others to volunteer, with many returning year after year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are child centred and are committed to building relationships with the children over the years. The holiday becomes a familiar experience and place for children to come, and many volunteers also return each year. Leaders continue to improve and develop the scheme each year; records have been digitalised and an app created to support volunteers to easily access records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders actively seek and respond to feedback from others. They have carefully reflected on learning from previous years and implemented appropriate safeguards that take account of children’s individual needs, the environment, and communication skills and needs of the children. These measures have been effective. Leaders maintain strong oversight and adapt practice throughout the holiday as needed. They have a clear understanding of the scheme’s strengths and areas for further development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders work closely with the children’s families and have clear and effective systems in place to gather and update information before the holiday begins. Leaders want children to return and include additional training and equipment when children’s needs have changed. Leaders also create bespoke programmes which meet the needs of children better. Information is up to date and records are detailed. One parent said, ‘The team at holiday scheme have gone out of their way to make the holiday accessible for (name of child).’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders recognise that some volunteers are new to supporting children with learning disabilities. They have established an effective support system that balances Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 5 experience, specialist knowledge and the new volunteers. Experienced volunteers are readily available to provide guidance. Leaders meet throughout the day to stay informed about children’s experiences, achievements and any challenges they may have to manage. This enables them to respond quickly and effectively when needed. Clear roles and responsibilities help ensure that all volunteers understand their accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Pastoral leads are identified for the volunteers and check in on them throughout the day. Leaders recognise that days can be tiring. They ensure that they have sufficient volunteers to provide regular breaks for volunteers and a dedicated space is provided for comfort and snacks during the day. Volunteers feel exceptionally well supported by leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders not only make sure that the children have wonderful experiences during their holidays but offer a unique opportunity for volunteers to gain insight, knowledge and skills in supporting the children. One volunteer said, ‘The week is the highlight of my summer,’ while another was inspired to offer their time after interviewing a volunteer for a magazine article. This denotes the diverse backgrounds and experiences that volunteers bring. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 6

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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 Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 7

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider: Oundle Mencap Holidays Ltd 05393382

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 58 Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4PT Responsible individual: Olivia Kirkbride Registered manager: Claire Huntington

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Inspector

Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Oundle Mencap Holidays 8 to 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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