Wharfedale Montessori School

Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 1 Wharfedale Montessori School Bolton Abbey, Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6AN

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report:

Overall outcome The school meets all of the independent school standards that were checked during this inspection

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report:

At its most recent inspection, the school was judged to not meet all of the independent school standards and associated requirements.

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report:

The purpose of this inspection was to monitor the progress the school has made in meeting the independent school standards and other requirements that it was judged to not comply with at its previous inspection.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

When we carry out progress monitoring 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 (the 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

At the last inspection, inspectors found that the proprietor had not ensured that the school met all the standards consistently. Leaders had not taken appropriate actions to ensure that arrangements for safeguarding pupils were consistently effective over time. In addition, the school’s admissions register did not contain all the required information and did not comply with ‘The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024’. As a result, the leadership and management standards that relate to leaders’ arrangements for caring for the welfare of pupils and leaders’ knowledge and effective implementation of the standards were unmet.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders have taken appropriate steps to ensure that the school now meets the standards that were judged as being unmet at the previous additional inspection. They have Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 2 strengthened their strategic oversight of the school and monitor the school’s compliance with the standards with increasing rigour and precision. Leaders have implemented suitable systems and procedures to support a positive culture of safeguarding, including a new process for the recording of safeguarding concerns. The admissions register now records the required information and is managed in line with statutory guidance.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

Leaders ensure that pupils’ safety is prioritised. They meet regularly to check the impact of their work and plan suitable next steps, when concerns arise. Leaders and the proprietor now have an accurate understanding of the school’s compliance with the standards and the areas in need of continued monitoring and development.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor and leaders know the school well. They have developed their knowledge and understanding of the standards, and ensure that actions to improve the school are carefully monitored. Leaders are passionate about the school’s ethos and the opportunities the school provides for pupils. They possess relevant knowledge, skills and determination to improve the quality of the school’s provision effectively, and provide continued support and challenge to staff.

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Part 8. Quality of leadership in and management of schools

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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Safeguarding

The previous inspection found weaknesses in the school’s safeguarding arrangements, including with procedures for recruitment of staff and the recording of safeguarding concerns. Checks on a new director living on the school site had not been completed in full and the school’s plans to keep pupils safe while this person used the building were unclear.

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Safeguarding

There is a suitable policy for safeguarding in place, which reflects current statutory guidance. It is published on the school’s website. Other relevant policies for safeguarding are available from the school on request.

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Safeguarding

Staff receive pertinent training to safeguard pupils and to follow safeguarding procedures to keep pupils safe. The proprietor ensures that several members of staff are trained to designated safeguarding lead standard so that there is always a designated person available across the school site. Leaders utilise external guidance and training to keep up to date with current safeguarding information. Staff working with early years children understand the need to be vigilant to children’s needs. Leaders have ensured that the early years welfare requirements are met. Pupils learn how to stay safe, including when they are online and when exploring and playing in the Bolton Abbey school grounds. They appreciate the importance of healthy relationships and having positive mental and physical health. Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 3 Leaders have devised an appropriate online system for the recording of safeguarding

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Safeguarding

concerns. It is understood by staff and clearly details the necessary information that staff should record if they have concerns about pupils’ welfare. Leaders work with external agencies, when necessary, to support pupils and their families. No new staff have been appointed since the last inspection, but the proprietor has not been complacent. Recruitment procedures have been revised and tightened. Leaders understand that safeguarding is an integral part of the application and interview processes. They have made relevant changes to ensure future recruitment of staff follows safer recruitment guidelines.

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Safeguarding

The single central record shows that leaders undertake the necessary checks on the suitability of staff to work with children. The required checks on the director now living on the school premises have been completed in full. Leaders and the proprietor have assessed possible risks of the director entering and exiting the school during the school day. They have put in place suitable actions to mitigate these risks. For example, the director has undertaken appropriate additional safeguarding training and has been made aware of the school’s safeguarding arrangements and expectations.

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Safeguarding

The proprietor has ensured that these standards are met.

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Admissions and attendance

At the time of the last standard inspection and the previous monitoring inspection, the school’s admissions register did not comply with ‘The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024’.

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Admissions and attendance

Leaders have taken time to understand the above guidance and sought external advice to ensure that the school complies with the requirements to meet this standard for attendance and admissions. For example, the admissions register now contains the required information to indicate where entries have been amended. Leaders have put in place procedures to ensure that every entry into the school’s admission register is preserved for 6 years, beginning with the day on which the entry was made. The school continues to follow statutory guidance for recording pupils’ attendance accurately.

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Admissions and attendance

The proprietor has ensured that this standard is met. Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 4

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About this inspection

Inspectors carried out this inspection under sections 109(1) and (2) of the Education and Skills Act 2008, at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. Inspectors checked the school’s 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 inspection was conducted without notice.

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About this inspection

The inspector spoke with the headteacher, the chair of the proprietor body and the incoming chair of the proprietor body. The inspector met with some staff and pupils. The inspector considered documentation related to safeguarding, staff recruitment, admissions, attendance and risk assessment.

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About this inspection

The school’s last standard inspection took place on 4 to 6 March 2025. An additional inspection of the school took place 6 November 2025, when the school was judged not to comply with all the independent school standards. This was the school’s second progress monitoring inspection.

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About this inspection

The Department for Education (DfE) required the school to prepare an action plan. Ofsted evaluated this action plan on 17 April 2026. The DfE rejected this action plan in May 2026.

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About this inspection

The school currently does not currently use alternative provision.

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About this inspection

The school follows the values and principles of the Montessori curriculum. It is registered to admit up to 48 pupils.

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About this inspection

The chair of the proprietor body is changing. The DfE are currently undertaking the necessary checks before this change is approved. Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 5

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Lead inspector

Stephanie Innes-Taylor His Majesty’s Inspector

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About this school

Proprietor Wharfedale Montessori Limited Headteacher Jeremy Clarke Type of school Other independent school Capacity 48

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compulsory school age on roll

Age range of pupils 2 to 11 Gender of pupils Mixed Annual fees for day pupils £11,754 Email address secretary@wharfedalemontessori.org Wharfedale Montessori School, 8 July 2026 6 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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