Ismail, Mohammad

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  Advice note for a pre-registration inspection of an academy/free school/studio school/university technical college (UTC)  School name Essa Primary School DfE registration number 350/ Unique reference number (URN) 1697 Inspection number 446923 Inspection dates 30 June 2014 Reporting inspector Mohammad Ismail    The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to 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 0300 123 1231, 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. Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our website for news, information and updates at www.ofsted.gov.uk/user. Piccadilly Gate Store Street Manchester M1 2WD   T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk No. 090080  © Crown copyright 2013      Advice note for a pre-registration inspection to a new academy/free school/studio school/ university technical college (UTC)   3 Information about the inspection This inspection was conducted by Ofsted at the request of the registration authority for independent schools. It was carried out under section 99 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.1  Context of the school The proposed Essa Primary School is a free school and it is located in the outskirts of Bolton. It is sponsored by Essa Foundation Academies Trust. The school is to be placed for one year in a refurbished building located in the grounds of Essa Academy. The building was previously used as sixth form centre. It is planned that the school will move into its permanent accommodation next door, which is under construction, in 2015. The school intends to open in September 2014 in its present accommodation and enrol 60 pupils in the Reception class and 30 pupils in Year 1 and Year 2. The numbers will gradually increase to 420 in the following years when school will move into its new building. The provision will be for both boys and girls in the age range 4 to 11 years. Appropriate arrangements for staffing and accommodation are in place to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The school will be non-selective and it intends to admit some pupils with statements of special educational needs. The school aims ‘to ensure its children develop into independent learners who are able to actively engage and contribute to the ever changing society and wider world.’ The school is not affiliated to any faith denomination and it welcomes pupils from all backgrounds.  Compliance with the regulations Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils The school is likely to meet all of the regulations, but implementation could not be seen as the school is yet to open. A detailed policy for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development has been developed. There are clear schemes of work for personal, social, health and citizenship education (PSHCE). The school aims to provide PSHCE across the curriculum and this is also included in the curriculum for the Reception class. The programme includes plans for school assemblies and elements of PSHCE to be taught within English, science, religious education, history and geography. Spiritual development will be promoted through religious education, through consideration of life stories and through opportunities to discuss world events. Pupils will learn tolerance for the beliefs and cultures of others. There is much emphasis on developing confidence and self-esteem. All pupils will have the opportunities of becoming school council representatives, eco representatives, sports captains and tour guides. Other responsibilities such as acting as librarians, house captains and playground monitors will enable pupils to develop personal values,                                             1 www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/25/section/99   Advice note for a pre-registration inspection of a new academy/free school/studio school/ university technical college (UTC)  4 independence and social skills. The policies for behaviour and the prevention of bullying provide a strong framework to enable pupils to understand the difference between right and wrong. In addition, the policies will help pupils to develop socially with a sense of care and consideration for others. The curriculum includes opportunities for pupils to consider matters such as fair trade, human rights, sexism and race discrimination in a moral context. The curriculum policy identifies opportunities for pupils to develop an understanding of the civil and criminal law and of public services in England. A system of school councils will enable pupils to learn about good citizenship and how a democracy operates. There are plans in place for pupils to make a contribution to the community through links with community charity programmes such as the local Derian House charity, Children in Need and the school fair. The school will provide its pupils with cultural and sports activities through its work with the Nightingale Centre, Bolton’s Lads’ and Girls Club, Urban Outreach and the local Harvest Festival.  The school has taken suitable steps to ensure that partisan political views are not promoted in the teaching of any subject and, where political issues are brought to the attention of the students, that reasonable steps will be taken to offer a balanced presentation of opposing views at all times.  Welfare, health and safety of pupils Documentary evidence indicates that all of the regulations are likely to be met, but implementation could not be seen. All the required policy documents have been produced, including comprehensive policies for safeguarding, safer recruitment, behaviour management, anti-bullying and first aid. Senior staff have been trained in safe recruitment and the procedures have been applied effectively to the recruitment process to date. The headteacher is trained as the designated officer for child protection. Two additional designated child protection officers are booked to be trained at the required level by the local safeguarding children board in August 2014 so that requirements are likely to be met. Safeguarding, health and safety and fire safety training for all staff is similarly set to take place in August 2014. Two members of staff are identified and trained to take responsibility for first aid and they are booked for paediatric first aid training on 19 August 2014 to meet the requirement for the Reception class. Suitable policies have been prepared for all required aspects of fire safety; risk assessments are in place which will be reviewed after the completion of refurbishment work. Admission and attendance registers will be maintained electronically and their formats meet requirements. The school meets the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 by having a suitable access improvement plan.  Suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors  The school’s completion of the required checks on the suitability of staff and implementation to date indicates that all regulations are likely to be met. All required   Advice note for a pre-registration inspection to a new academy/free school/studio school/ university technical college (UTC)   5 checks have been completed for the proprietors and for the staff already appointed. These are recorded on a single central register which meets requirements. Checks are completed and entries on the register are updated as new staff are appointed. The school does not intend to employ supply staff but is aware of the requirements should such staff be appointed in the future.  Premises of and accommodation at the school The school is likely to meet all the regulations. The school is situated within Essa Academy which is its partner secondary school. It is going to be based in the sixth form section of the academy for one year while the school’s permanent site is completed in 2015. The temporary accommodation is going through some refurbishment which will be completed in mid-August 2014. The allocated section has five large-sized classrooms, a large hall, tutorial rooms and offices. There are sufficient washrooms and there is a suitably equipped room for medical examinations and for students who may be ill. New furniture and teaching equipment are on order and are suitable for the school. The accommodation has several access points for disabled persons. There will be sufficient labelled drinking water facilities in the building and also arrangements for the safe temperature control of the hot water supply. There are indoor and outdoor sport facilities in the academy building which will be available for use. There is sufficient safe outside space for play and recreation, including a secure play area for the Reception class. The school’s accommodation and the site are both fully secure.  Provision of information The provision meets all regulations.  Manner in which complaints are to be handled The provision meets all regulations.   Recommendation to the Department for Education Registration  YES. This school is likely to meet all regulations when it opens and is recommended for registration.  Recommended number of day pupils: 90 for this year and 420 when school moves into its new accommodation Recommended number of boarders: 0 Recommended age range: 4–11 years Recommended gender of pupils: Mixed Recommended type of special educational needs: N/A.  Advice note for a pre-registration inspection of a new academy/free school/studio school/ university technical college (UTC)  6  

Advice note for a pre-registration inspection of an academy/free school/studio school/university technical college (UTC): Essa Primary School

https://dera.ioe.ac.uk//21289/1/Essa_Primary_Bolton_Ofsted_Advice_Note.pdf

Advice note for a pre-registration inspection of an academy/free school/studio school/university technical college (UTC): Essa Primary School

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