Setting

Ms Z Cozens Heathcote School Normanton Park Chingford London E4 6ES

p.1

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

Thank you for your hospitality and co-operation and that of your colleagues during my visit to Heathcote School on Wednesday 05 November 2008 to look at the work of your school in relation to the extent and quality of provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion. I would be grateful if you would you pass my thanks also to the young people with whom I met.

p.1

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

The school has developed shared provision for pupils excluded for more than 5 days in partnership with the other schools in the area. The provision is hosted by one of these other schools and there are clear protocols agreed for placements in the provision. In 2007/08 nine pupils had exclusions of more than 5 days and attended the provision.

p.1

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

At the time of this visit, there were no pupils in the day 6 provision. However, the visit was very useful to enable me to understand the strategies you use to reduce the need for exclusions and the provision made for pupils who had been excluded for more than 5 days in the last academic year. The following points summarise my findings from our discussions, data and document review and conversations with parents and pupils.

p.1

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

 The school has a clear commitment to ownership of pupils in the school and uses a wide range of strategies to avoid exclusion.  The school engages parents very well in discussions and planning to help them understand and address their child’s difficulties.  Preventative strategies and effective partnership working with schools and the local authority through the Fair Access Panel are having an impact on reducing the number of pupils excluded permanently or for a fixed term.  Day 6 provision is having a positive impact on young people with no repeat, longer term exclusions. Young people said they did not want to go back there. Alexandra House 33 Kingsway London WC2B 6SE T 08456 404045 F 020 7421 6855 enquiries@Ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk  A good range of individualised support packages are enabling young people to continue with their education in school and improve their attitude to learning.  Clear protocols and good communication between the school and the

p.1

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

day 6 provision enable swift transfer of information and work to ensure a smooth transition at the start and end of the placement.  The quality of the provision is overseen by the area partnership and behaviour and attendance consultants, but the school has not yet visited to assure itself of the quality of the work.  Good efforts are made to avoid the exclusion of very vulnerable pupils, for example looked after children or those where there are child protection concerns.  No pupil with a statement of special educational needs has been permanently excluded in the last two years, but those at earlier stages of the SEN Code of Practice make up a high proportion of fixed term exclusions.

p.2

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

Areas for improvement which we discussed include:

p.2

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

 quality assure the day 6 provision yourselves to enable a full evaluation of its impact.

p.2

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

The visit will provide much useful evidence for our survey. Heathcote School will not be named in any publication without your permission. Most evidence will be used at a general level to ascertain if schools and local authorities are complying with legislation and to identify the quality and extent of their provision.

p.2

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

Thank you once again for your co-operation and the work you put in before hand and on the day to help me gain a good insight into the work of your school. As I explained in my previous letter, a copy of this letter will be sent to your local authority and will be published on the Ofsted website. It will also be available to the team for your next institutional inspection.

p.2

provision for pupils from day 6 of exclusion

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.

p.2