Wharfedale Montessori School

Overview

The inspection found that the school “does not meet all of the independent school standards that were checked.” While the quality of education remains strong, with a curriculum aligned to the Montessori ethos that enables all pupils to read and write, significant failures in safeguarding and leadership compliance have been identified. The report notes that while some previous issues have been resolved, other areas have deteriorated or remain unaddressed.

Strengths

• The curriculum “aligns with the school’s Montessori ethos” and ensures all pupils can read and write by the time they leave.
• There is “careful tracking and assessment of the progress that each pupil makes,” with next steps planned weekly and shared with parents via an online system.
• Teachers receive training in the Montessori curriculum, and lesson time is used effectively to ensure activities are complete.
• Pupils are confident that bullying does not happen, understanding what it is and who to tell if it occurs.
• First aid kits are now within date, and appropriate termly checks are being carried out.

Areas to improve

• Safeguarding arrangements are not met, with insufficient record-keeping, inadequate safer recruitment training, and unresolved checks on the proprietor’s partner living on-site.
• Leaders “do not have a secure knowledge of the standards” and there is “no clear plan or system” to ensure compliance.
• The admissions register remains non-compliant with statutory regulations, failing to preserve entries for six years or show amendments.

Safeguarding

The report states that safeguarding standards are not met, citing that “no action has been taken... to improve the quality of record keeping,” insufficient staff training, and a lack of systems to manage the proprietor’s partner’s access to the school premises.