The Limes School

Lime Meadows Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 357/6056 Unique Reference Number 130913 Inspection number 354030 Inspection dates 30 March 2010 Reporting inspector Saleem Hussain

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Published: 13 April 2010 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 Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090137 Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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Purpose and scope of the visit

This inspection visit was carried out by Ofsted under Section 162A of the Education Act 2002 1 , as amended by schedule 8 of the Education Act 2005 2 .

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Purpose and scope of the visit

The visit was conducted at the request of the Registration Authority for independent schools in order to monitor the progress the school has made in implementing its action plan following the previous inspection.

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Information about the school

Lime Meadows is a small special school owned by Whistledawn Ltd and run by Northern Care. It provides education for up to six students between the ages of 14 and 18 years who board for 52 weeks a year in a small residential provision. The school was opened in September 2001. Currently there are six students between the ages of 15 and 18 years attending the school. One has a statement of special educational needs. The students are placed at Lime Meadows by a number of different local authorities. Some students have had periods in the past when they have not attended school or have been excluded from education.

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Context of the visit

The boarding provision was last inspected by Ofsted in November 2009. The school had its last inspection of education in March 2009. It was required to produce an action plan that was accepted in July 2009. This is the report of the first monitoring visit to evaluate progress against the school’s action plan.

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action plan

At the last inspection of the school, the quality of education was judged to be good. Students made good progress and by the time they left they achieved a range of external accreditation. The school met most of the independent schools regulations. However, there was a weakness in identifying and recording students’ progress. This was because the school did not create a baseline assessment or assess students against a suitable measure such as National Curriculum levels. The school was therefore unable to monitor students’ progress effectively and, precise information about each student’s progress was missing from school reports to their parents. The school’s safeguarding procedures were judged to be good. However, the school’s single central register of staff did not meet all of the requirements with regard to recording the date when each check was completed. Finally, the school’s admission register had information missing.

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action plan

1 www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002/ukpga_20020032_en_14#pt10-ch1-pb4-l1g162 2 www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2005/ukpga_20050018_en_15#sch8 Inspection report template – progress monitoring The company’s education manager and the headteacher developed an action plan with clear strategies and procedures to remedy the weaknesses identified. In order to resolve the shortcomings in relation to assessment the school intended to revise its policy and procedures. New guidance was to be provided in the policy to teachers about carrying out baseline assessments. This guidance was also to include details about the skills that were to be assessed when students first started at the school and tests that were to be undertaken at the end of each half-term. In addition, the school was to develop monitoring forms for teachers to record the weekly progress made by each student in all subjects. The school was also to produce an overall

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action plan

summary of progress for students. Senior managers were to ensure that parents received better quality information in school reports about their children’s progress. The school planned to review the single central register of staff to ensure that it included dates for all the checks completed. The school was also to check that the admission register contained all the required information.

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action plan

As a result of fully implementing the action plan, the school has remedied all the weaknesses. In relation to assessment, the school has now established a system whereby students’ attainment and progress is measured in relation to National Curriculum levels and is recorded and monitored effectively. The school’s revised assessment policy is fully implemented. Teachers have carried out baseline assessments in English, mathematics and science for each student. Ongoing assessment is carried out in all taught subjects using the weekly progress-monitoring forms. The school also carries out end-of-half-term tests in English, mathematics and science. All this information is used effectively to produce an overall summary of the students’ progress. The quality of information to parents now meets requirements because school reports are more precise about progress and attainment. In relation to safeguarding, the school’s single central register of staff now includes dates to

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action plan

show when each check was completed. Similarly, the school’s admission register contains all the necessary information.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

The school has made good progress and now meets all regulatory requirements. Inspection report template – progress monitoring

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School details

Name of school Lime Meadows DCSF number 357/6056 Unique reference number 130913 Type of school Special school for students with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties Status Independent Date school opened September 2001 Age range of students 14–18 years Gender of students Boys Number on roll (full-time students) 5 Number on roll (part-time students) 1 Number of students with a statement of special educational need Annual fees (boarders) £171,600 Telephone number 01253 316160 (Company office) Email address limes.education@northern-care.co.uk Headteacher Ms Karen Barber Proprietor Whistledawn Ltd; trading as Northern Care Reporting inspector Mr Saleem Hussain Dates of inspection 30 March 2010

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