Mortimer House School

Valley House Independent school progress report

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DCSF registration number 937/6105 Unique Reference Number (URN) 135259 Inspection number 361137 Inspection dates 11 June 2010 Reporting inspector Jill Bainton

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Published: 21.06.2010 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

Valley House is a children’s home providing education owned by Young Foundations Limited. It was registered in May 2007 as a school providing for up to six students in public care aged from 14 to 16 with severe behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. It has since admitted students over the age of 16 and those with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). There are currently four students on roll, all of whom have statements of special educational needs. The school aims to re-engage students in education, enable them to develop cooperative and interpersonal skills and to acquire study skills necessary to realise their learning potential. The school’s first inspection was in May 2009.

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Context of the visit

The school was inspected in May 2009 when a large number of regulations were not met. An action plan was subsequently submitted and evaluated. A progress monitoring visit was made in November 2009 when the majority of regulations were met. The school submitted a second action plan, which was evaluated in February 2010 and found to be broadly satisfactory. This is the second progress monitoring visit to evaluate the progress the school has made in addressing its second action plan.

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action plan

At the first progress monitoring visit it was found that the schemes of work which the school was required to devise were either not in place or lacked sufficient detail for the age and ability of the students. There are now sufficient detailed schemes in place, which cover all areas of learning and meet the needs of the students in the age and ability range at the school.

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action plan

The school was also required to provide for parents, carers and others a range of information which was previously missing from its documentation as follows:

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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 school’s address and telephone number and the name of the headteacher  particulars of educational and welfare provision for students with statements of special educational needs and for students for whom English is an additional language  particulars of academic performance during the preceding school year, including the results of any public examinations  a list of the staff employed by the school, including temporary staff, and a summary of their qualifications.

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action plan

The school now makes all this information available.

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Compliance with regulatory requirements

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

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Age range of pupils

14–16 Gender of pupils Mixed Number on roll (full-time pupils) Boys: 3 Girls: 1 Total: 4 Number of boarders Boys: 3 Girls: 1 Total: 4

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special educational need

Number of pupils who are looked after Boys: 3 Girls: 1 Total: 4 Annual fees (education) £ 19,500

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Address of school

c/o Young Foundations Chesnut Street Darlington Co Durham DL1 1QH Telephone number 01675 542875 Fax number 01675 542597 Email address cheryllester@youngfoundations.com Headteacher Cheryl Lester Proprietor Barbara Thompson Reporting inspector Jill Bainton Dates of inspection 11 June 2010

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