Children's Home, Residential special school run by Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 1 Registered provider: Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation runs this home. The home provides care for up to 15 children who have complex health needs, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, physical disabilities and/or sensory and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were 3 children living at the home and 7 young people. Inspectors spent time with the children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a linked independent day school and accommodation in the grounds for adults who have learning disabilities and complex needs. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 12 January 2026

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/01/2026 Full Good 14/10/2024 Full Good 30/05/2023 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive individualised care from staff who understand and respond to their complex needs. Children are effectively safeguarded. Children benefit from a wide range of experiences that promote their wellbeing and identity. There are some shortfalls around managerial oversight; however, these have not negatively affected children’s quality of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into the home. One child had a well- planned move on from the home. Three young people are due to move on imminently. Four young people have recently had their eighteenth birthday and have appropriate care planning in place to enable them to finish their education before leaving the home. The manager is reviewing several new referrals for children to move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home operates 3 flats where the children live. The staff have created areas for the children and young people to socialise, with furniture that has been adapted to help children to live comfortably in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s and young people’s bedrooms are personalised. Staff make sure that they create a homely environment with thoughtful decor. Staff keep the home clean and tidy throughout. Managers have put in measures for the children to be able to regulate the air temperature by having air conditioning in each room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff. Staff understand how to communicate with children with complex communication needs. Staff give children lots of choices around their day-to-day care. Staff are patient, kind and nurturing. Children are happy and have fun at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team provides a holistic approach to the children’s care. Children benefit from the support of a range of professionals, including nurses and occupational and speech and language therapists. The staff follow clear and well-devised health plans to ensure that children’s complex health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend a specialist education provision on site. Children enjoy education. Staff support children’s learning experiences at the home. Attendance at school is generally good. Sometimes children’s health can impact attendance. The children have regular input from health professionals to reduce the need for children to have time away from school whenever possible. Children make progress with learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have different cultural needs and some children have specialist dietary requirements. These are well catered for. Children also have personal possessions that Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 4 support their cultural and diversity needs. For example, one child has a smart speaker to communicate in the child’s native language. One child wore a football kit from their home country for the World Cup. Children’s identities are celebrated by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have taken part in a range of activities, inside and outside of the home. Staff take photos showing children’s experiences. Children have enjoyed trips to the beach, wildlife parks and concerts. One child has enjoyed a holiday to France with their family. Another child is looking forward to an overnight stay at the zoo. Children have access to sensory equipment, such as a music garden, forest school and more physio-led experiences, with rebound therapy and a hydrotherapy pool.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff understand how to report safeguarding concerns and implement safeguarding procedures. Staff have specific safeguarding training in relation to children with disabilities.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff support children with complex medication requirements in line with children’s health plans. There is good oversight of medication, including a monthly audit from the on-site nurse. There have been no medication errors.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff record body maps for children; these are shared in a timely way with relevant professionals. Sharing this information helps to ensure that children are effectively safeguarded.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff implement behaviour management plans. Staff use strategies to reduce children’s anxiety. Staff have a good awareness of potential triggers and recognise if children are unhappy or in pain. This has resulted in minimising behavioural incidents, in both frequency and severity. No physical interventions have been necessary since the last inspection.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home’s fire doors are fitted with self-closing mechanisms. However, at the time of this inspection, one fire door did not have a mechanism fitted and remained open. This is of particular significance given the door leads to a cupboard where flammable oxygen tanks are stored. This poses a risk to staff, children and visitors in the event of a fire. The manager started to address this during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is very experienced, has a wealth of knowledge and holds a relevant managerial qualification. She is a good role model to the staff. She is supported by 4 competent care managers. Staff are enthusiastic and caring and provide excellent child- centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report feeling valued, respected and well supported. Staff morale is high, and staff are proud to work at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 5 Feedback from professionals and parents is positive. Two personal advisers and a social worker praised the care provided by the manager and staff. Two parents said that they are impressed with the care. One parent said the care is ‘excellent’ and highlighted the high levels of communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a complaint from a child’s family. The manager has taken the complaint seriously, and an investigation has begun. The manager has ensured that the relevant professionals are aware and that there is a joint approach to ensure that the complaint is managed effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some staff have regular supervision sessions, which are helpful and meaningful. However, there are gaps in staff supervision, including for senior managers. This means opportunities may be missed to discuss their practice, development and any concerns they have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular high-quality training that supports them to meet the complex needs of the children and young people. However, there are gaps in training for some staff. Leaders and managers have a system in place for monitoring such progress, however this is not as effective as it could be. This means some staff training may be out of date or incomplete. Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 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 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

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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff receive regular practice-related supervision. Ensure that all staff receive up-to-date learning relating to their roles and that training records are clear. 14 September 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home complies with relevant health and safety legislation. In particular, they should ensure that fire doors function effectively to reduce the risk of a fire spreading. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 8

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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: 1229766 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Independent Children’s Home

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aurora Care and Education Opco Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 13, Twigworth Court Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire GL2 9PG

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Inspectors

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1229766 10 and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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