Maypole School

Strengths

• Leadership and the proprietor body bring relevant expertise and are generally effective.
• The school has careful safer recruitment processes and effective central HR support.
• The single central record is accurately maintained, up to date and regularly checked.
• Safeguarding training is regular and comprehensive, with strong DSL capacity.
• Leaders work well with external agencies to provide timely support to pupils and families.
• Pupils on site feel happy, safe and secure and trust staff.
• Pupils develop positive relationships with staff rapidly despite significant barriers to learning.
• Health and safety systems are effective, with regular checks, audits and swift responses to issues.
• Fire safety arrangements are robust, including clear escape routes and frequent checks.
• Risk assessment for existing provision is thorough, detailed and responsive to pupils' needs.
• Staffing ratios on site are appropriate and staff are well trained to supervise pupils effectively.
• Plans for recruiting and training additional staff include well-considered induction and extended shadowing.
• On-site premises include classroom areas, therapeutic pods, break-out spaces and suitable outdoor space.
• The school site has appropriate lighting, acoustic conditions and well-maintained outdoor areas.

Areas for Improvement

• The school is unlikely to meet the relevant independent school standards if the proposed material change is implemented.
• The proposed expansion would be delivered entirely off site and remotely at locations that are mostly undetermined.
• The school cannot demonstrate that pupils' safety, welfare and wellbeing would be adequately protected in unknown off-site locations.
• Safeguarding support provided on site cannot be shown to be replicable for a fully off-site provision.
• Unknown off-site locations cannot be appropriately risk assessed.
• The school cannot determine whether premises and accommodation for additional pupils would meet the independent school standards.
• Health and safety, fire safety and first-aid arrangements for unknown off-site locations cannot be assured.
• The school cannot demonstrate that toilet, washing, medical room and therapy accommodation standards would be met for additional pupils.
• Lighting, acoustic conditions and outdoor space for additional pupils cannot be assured because locations are undetermined.
• The current school site does not have enough space for the planned increase in pupil numbers.
• The additional pupils would not access the current on-site facilities, so existing compliance does not extend to them.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools