Balham special ed needs school slammed by Ofsted

A special educational needs school has been slammed by an inspector who found staff tube-feeding students in front of other people.

Pupils at The Michael Tippett College in Balham were not always treated with dignity, according to an Ofsted report published on March 29.

Staff took pupils on trips to unhealthy fast-food restaurants as part of lessons on 'life-skills.' Some teachers at the school, which caters for young adults with severe learning difficulties, were not trained for the job.

The school, which teaches 41 students aged 19 to 25, was handed the worst possible rating of inadequate following an inspection in January.

The Ofsted report published this week reads: "Learners are not always treated with respect for their dignity. For example, when supporting learners with tube feeding and medication, staff do so in the classroom in front of other learners and staff.

"Leaders do not ensure that staff promote healthy living throughout the curriculum. For example, in the life skills curriculum, staff take learners on visits to unhealthy fast-food restaurants.

"Leaders do not ensure that teaching staff have the qualifications, experience or training they need to teach learners with highly complex needs. For example, teachers of the health and well-being curriculum have no coaching qualifications or prior experience of teaching groups of young adults with high needs."

Managers at the school didn't know if students were missing lessons because they failed to keep attendance records. Classes were poorly thought out and sensitive subjects like personal care were taught in an unsuitable way according to the report.

It reads: "Leaders do not have sufficient oversight of attendance. There are no formal processes to follow up learner absences, and no overall data is collected. As a result, leaders do not know which learners attend less well.

"Leaders and teachers have not ensured that the personal development curriculum is fit for purpose. Topics are poorly planned. Teachers teach sensitive topics such as personal and intimate care in mixed-gender groups, and activities are highly inappropriate."

But the report praised staff at the school for developing good relationships with students. The report reads: "Learners are happy at the college because staff are committed to supporting them. For example, job coaches offer positive encouragement to learners in lessons.

"Staff provide appropriate physical support to learners with mobility issues. Learners behave well around the college and on visits because staff set clear expectations for behaviour."

The Michael Tippett College said: "The school is currently being led by an experienced interim leadership team, who have taken action to effectively and rapidly tackle the issues raised in the Ofsted report.

"All concerns raised by Ofsted in relation to safeguarding have been addressed. Staff have undergone a substantial programme of training and are being supported by experienced staff from other special schools. This training has included consistently meeting pupils' communication needs.

"There is a new curriculum in place that meets individual pupils' special needs.

New experienced governors have been appointed to the governing body.

Due to the outcome of the inspection, the school is now legally eligible for intervention by the Department for Education (DfE) and it has been issued with an Academy Order.

"The Local Authority and Department for Education and Regional Schools Commissioner are working closely together to ensure that excellent, permanent leadership arrangements can made as quickly as possible so that the children at The Michael Tippett School receive an outstanding education now, and in the future."