The Willows

The Willows, 12 August 2026 1 The Willows 131 Straight Road, Colchester, CO3 9DE

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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 two directors. They have a suitably informed understanding of what is required to ensure the school is likely to meet the independent school standards. They understand the importance of continuing to develop both their own knowledge and expertise, and that of other members of staff, should the school be registered.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The headteacher has established a clear programme for assuring the quality of important aspects of the work of the school’s work. Leaders intend to use these checks to inform future school development priorities.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has established a governing body. This will monitor the work of the school and hold leaders to account. It has identified a structure and schedule for how governing body meetings will be run and information used. Regular meetings The Willows, 12 August 2026 2 are scheduled with clear agendas. Within the governing body, governors have experience of working in education, including in governance. The governing body has experience and capacity to provide robust challenge to leaders. This should ensure that the proprietor is able to hold leaders effectively to account for the provision and quality of the education on offer. The proprietor is further developing precise milestones against which to measure the progress of the school. The proprietor has experienced staff in place in leadership and consultancy roles to provide support and capacity as and when required.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders have clear processes in place for managing referrals and admissions to the school. They understand the importance of working closely with local authorities and virtual schools to ensure the school can meet the individual needs of pupils with SEND.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Curriculum

The proposed school intends to cater for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). It is likely that pupils will have an education, health and care (EHC) plan linked to their SEND, including social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. All pupils will be looked after children. The school anticipates that pupils will typically have experienced disruption to their education over time. Wherever possible, the intention is that pupils are equipped with the knowledge and attributes to re-enter mainstream education or progress onto employment or training.

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Curriculum

There is an appropriate curriculum policy in place. This is accompanied by suitable schemes of work. The curriculum is aligned to relevant qualifications, including vocational qualifications, functional skills and ASDAN and AQA awards. This should provide pupils with a broad curriculum that closes gaps in their knowledge, builds their confidence, and prepares them for their next steps in education, training or employment.

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Curriculum

Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is part of the core curriculum offer. This will include the teaching of relationships and sex education (RSE). Both the PSHE and RSE curriculum follow a commercial scheme. There is an appropriate policy that reflects the curriculum offer. Staff intend to adapt these curriculums, so pupils secure the important knowledge they need. For instance, pupils will learn, in an age-appropriate way, about healthy relationships, consent and contraception. Staff will use their checks on pupils learning and knowledge of pupils’ needs to do so. The Willows, 12 August 2026 3 The proposed school has a careers programme that begins in Year 7. It plans to work in partnership with the virtual schools to support pupils with impartial careers guidance.

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Curriculum

The proposed school plans to only have students on roll in Year 12 in very rare circumstances. This will most likely be where these students need more time to complete their qualifications. The proprietor has carefully considered the programme of activities these students will experience.

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Teaching

Leaders have experience in teaching pupils with SEND. Leaders intend to provide regular and ongoing training to ensure staff teach the curriculum effectively. Leaders have a clear and suitable plan to ensure staff employ effective strategies to meet pupils’ specific needs.

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Teaching

The proposed school intends to match curriculum content to pupils’ interests and future ambitions. An important focus for staff will be building pupils’ resilience and confidence after interruptions to their educational experiences. The proprietor intends to use specialist teachers and alternative provision as required to meet the specific needs and interests of pupils.

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Teaching

There has been careful consideration of how staff will adapt the planned curriculum to pupils’ individual needs and prior knowledge. The proposed school understands the importance of making sure staff support pupils to meet the specific targets set out in their EHC plans.

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Teaching

The curriculum includes the appropriate teaching of fundamental British values.

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Assessment

The school’s intention is to use the induction process when pupils join the school to accurately identify pupils’ attainment and knowledge across the curriculum. This is to enable staff to identify where there are gaps in pupils’ knowledge that need to be ad- dressed. This includes identifying any gaps in pupils’ foundational knowledge and pro- vide focused sessions and programmes to help close gaps in literacy and numeracy. Staff within the group, for instance, should be able to use their training and expertise in phonics to support pupils who find reading hard and to close their gaps.

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Assessment

The proposed school intends to use a range of suitable strategies to check on how well pupils progress through the curriculum so staff can adapt their teaching appropri- ately.

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Assessment

The independent school standards (the in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens. The Willows, 12 August 2026 4

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pupils

The proposed school has identified how the curriculum and wider enrichment offer will support pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The assembly timetable includes learning about the importance of the community and the value of diversity. The school will establish deliberate opportunities within, and beyond the setting, for pupils to develop their creativity and engage in discussion.

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pupils

The PSHE curriculum includes opportunities for pupils to learn about rights, responsibilities and the legal system.

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pupils

A focus of the enrichment offer will be for pupils to be active and responsible in the local and wider community. As part of this, the school plans to have pupils volunteer and raise funds for local charities.

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pupils

The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor body understands the need to ensure policies and practice are reviewed and updated when statutory guidance and legislation are updated. It has ensured that policies related to safeguarding comply with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ statutory guidance.

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Safeguarding

Staff responsible for managing safeguarding are appropriately trained in safer recruitment and as designated safeguarding leads.

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Safeguarding

There is a clear training plan to ensure new staff understand their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. Training will ensure staff have the knowledge they need to identify when a pupil may be at risk of harm. Systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of provision are in place and are robust.

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Safeguarding

The curriculum provides regular opportunities for pupils to learn the essential knowledge they need to keep them safe.

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Safeguarding

The proposed school plans to use alternative provision if this is appropriate to pupils’ needs and interests. Staff understand the checks they need to carry out on the alternative providers they use to ensure these are safe and suitable. The Willows, 12 August 2026 5

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

Behaviour policies fully reflect the therapeutic approaches the proposed school intends to use. There is a structured training programme to ensure staff have the required knowledge to implement these policies as leaders intend.

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Behaviour and supervision of pupils

Leaders understand how to monitor and analyse patterns of behaviour. This includes should any physical intervention be needed. This will ensure any instances are recorded and evaluated appropriately in line with statutory requirements.

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Anti-bullying

The school’s anti-bullying policies and procedures are clear and appropriate. They reflect the therapeutic approach used to support pupils’ behaviour.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There are suitable health and safety policies in place. Ongoing checks of the site ensure staff identify any issues that need to be remedied. These are addressed.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

There is an appropriate fire risk assessment in place. There are clear procedures for the checking of fire equipment such as testing alarms. Fire exits are clearly labelled. Suitable evacuation procedures have been established.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

All staff will be first aid trained when they join. Any first aid administered is recorded on an electronic recording system.

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Health and safety, fire and first aid

The proprietor has appointed a head of school. They intend to appoint a teacher, and an additional member of staff to support with teaching and provide appropriate supervision of pupils.

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Admissions and attendance

The admissions register records the required information. The proposed school has suitable procedures for recording attendance accurately.

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Risk assessment

Risk assessments are appropriate. They identify the nature of the potential risk, the severity of this risk and the mitigating actions that are required to reduce risk. The proposed school plans to create individual pupil risk assessments when pupils join the school.

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Risk assessment

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens. The Willows, 12 August 2026 6

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

The proposed school has completed the required pre-employment checks on staff they have already appointed.

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

Those responsible for completing pre-employment checks understand which checks need to be completed depending on the role of the member of staff.

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

The proposed school does not intend to use supply staff. Should it ever have to, staff know what checks they need to carry out.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

Pre-employment checks are accurately recorded on the single central record. The single central record is regularly checked for accuracy and completeness. The proposed school knows the checks needed on external staff such as contractors and carries these out.

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The single central record of these recruitment checks

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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and showers

There are dedicated toilet and washing facilities. These are suitable for the proposed age range of pupils. The temperature of water is appropriate. Pupils can readily access drinking water which is clearly labelled. Pupils can use showers in residential accommodation.

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Medical room and accommodation for pupils' therapy needs

The proposed school’s designated medical room is appropriate. It contains adequate first aid supplies, a sink and a collapsable bed.

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Ensuring the health, safety and welfare of pupils

The classroom space is set within residential accommodation. It is an appropriate size for the proposed number of pupils. There are additional spaces that can be used for small intervention sessions should these be needed. The Willows, 12 August 2026 7 To support a broad curriculum offer, some activities will be run off site. This includes physical education which will be timetabled at a local leisure centre and food technology, which will take place at a kitchen in a local school.

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Lighting and acoustic conditions

Spaces within the school are suitably ventilated, and well lit. The acoustics should be appropriate and conducive to a positive learning environment.

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Outdoor space

The school has a well-lit and well-maintained garden within its residential accommodation. It is not proposed to use this for teaching purposes.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proprietor’s company website provides some key information related to the proposed school. This includes contact details for the headteacher and proprietor There are clear systems in place for sharing the required policies and procedures with parents, carers and responsible bodies. The school’s standalone website is currently under construction.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The proposed school has robust and well considered systems in place to share information about looked after children and pupils with an EHC plan with local authorities.

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Part 6. Provision of information

The standards in this part are likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The proposed school’s complaints policy sets out appropriate procedures to manage complaints, with clear timeframes. Those responsible for governance and others know their roles and responsibilities. The school will keep all records related to complaints electronically.

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Part 7. Manner in which complaints are handled

The standard in this part is likely to be met if the proposed school opens.

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The school's accessibility plan

The proprietor body has ensured that a suitable accessibility plan and equalities policy are in place.

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The school's accessibility plan

The proposed school is likely to fulfil its duty under schedule 10 of the Equality Act 2010 should it open. The Willows, 12 August 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

Following our updated inspection framework, all inspections are now led by His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) or by Ofsted Inspectors (OIs) who have previously served as HMIs.

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About this inspection

Inspectors spoke with proprietors, the head of education, staff from SV Care Limited, and the chair of the governing body during the inspection. Inspectors also spoke to a representative of the local authority. Inspectors toured the premises, scrutinised the single central record and reviewed safeguarding arrangements. Inspectors reviewed a range of documentation, including curriculum plans, documentation related to SEND, policies, health and safety checks, risk assessments and other information related to the proposed school.

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About this inspection

The proprietor is SV Education Limited. The chair of the proprietary body is Vijay Saini. The proprietor has established a governing body to monitor the performance of the school.

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About this inspection

It is proposed that the school will provide full time education for up to four pupils, aged between eleven and seventeen years. The school only plans to have pupils on roll past key stage 4 to complete qualifications should this be necessary.

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About this inspection

The proposed school is not yet operating.

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About this inspection

The proposed school will cater for pupils with a range of SEND. This will include social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. Pupils may additionally have needs including autism, speech, language and communication (SLCN), and cognition and learning needs. It is anticipated that most pupils will have an EHC plan.

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About this inspection

The school is situated in a residential setting. It has two storeys and a garden.

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About this inspection

The school plans to use alternative provision. The Willows, 12 August 2026 9

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About this proposed school

Type of school Other independent special school

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authority

Age range of pupils Provider's proposal: 11-17

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authority

Gender of pupils Provider's proposal: mixed

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per week

Provider's proposal: 37.5 hours per week

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per week

Provider's proposal: 26.5 hours per week

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teaching staff

Provider's proposal: 1 The Willows, 12 August 2026 10 Number of part-time teaching staff Provider's proposal: 1

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teaching staff

Email address hazel.newton@svcare.co.uk The Willows, 12 August 2026 11 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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