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Glass found in Homeschool garden by Ofsted inspector

Broken glass, staff safeguarding checks not being carried out and fire extinguishers not serviced.

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These were some of the concerns raised by an education watchdog after it ruled a £40-a-day home school in Wednesbury was not meeting welfare, health and safety standards for children.

The Homeschool Social Enterprise school in Manifold Way was criticised during a recent Ofsted report.

Lead inspector Stuart Bellworthy, in his report, stated: "The school's small garden area is sometimes used by pupils, but is not well maintained. A piece of broken glass was found by the inspector and stinging nettles were growing in several areas."

Read the full report here

Further safety concerns were also raised, which included the headteacher not ensuring the fire extinguishers had been serviced.

There was also no records of who had been involved in any drills. Mr Bellworthy identified the gas boiler's annual checks were overdue. But he added: "The headteacher has since ensured that the gas boiler has been checked by an engineer."

It was also noted that information on the school's website could be 'misleading'. He said: "The school's website refers to a list of staff roles and 'a team of competent educational specialists to meet the diverse need of our pupils'. When asked about this, the headteacher explained that only two staff work at the school and both have several roles."

After the inspection had been carried out, Mr Bellworthy concluded it did not meet independent school standards due to the failings in safeguarding and welfare.

The independent day school caters for mixed pupils aged between five and 11. It is part of the Homeschool Social Enterprise, which is a registered charity.

The proprietor is also the headteacher and he is supported by the office manager, who is also a teaching assistant. There are no other staff and the school has no board of governors or proprietorial body.

Headteacher Colin Rankine, who runs the school with his wife, responded to the Ofsted report, and strongly criticised its findings. He said: "I have health and safety reports. But what Ofsted were asking for is not what is required for a school of this size, with less than two staff. It is what is required if you had a school with 200 to 300 people. I have documents to prove that is the legislation."

Mr Rankine explained that he and his wife had set up the school to help those children unable to stay at other schools.

"We've had children who couldn't read or write until they came to us.We take in children who have been mistreated at other schools. It is a charity and we get no funding.

"We are helping parents and their children. We have a herb garden. The inspector asked me to move a plant pot and underneath there was a two millimetre piece of glass under the pot."

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