Mansfield's Portland College still 'outstanding' after 'short-notice' visit from Ofsted

The college on Nottingham Road, Harlow Wood, welcomed the inspectors on March 25.

Concerns had been raised with Ofsted about safeguarding and the purpose of the monitoring inspection was not to determine grades for any of the evaluation areas, but to look into the concerns that caused Ofsted to decide to inspect the provider.

Following the inspection the report said: “Governors have appropriate oversight of safeguarding arrangements.

“The safeguarding governor meets at least termly with the designated safeguarding lead and undertakes useful site visits. This allows governors to triangulate the information that they receive from leaders.

“Governors are informed of any safeguarding concerns or cases. They challenge leaders to ensure that the right actions are taken in response.

“Leaders ensure that there are sufficient resources to attend to the personal care needs of learners.

“Facilities are accessible to wheelchair users, with sufficient hoists, grab rails and well-stocked supplies.

“The recently developed specialist sites at Forest Road and Woodborough have been carefully designed by leaders and staff. They are accessible, well-designed spaces that provide learners with a calm environment in which to learn.

“Leaders have suitable safeguarding policies and procedures in place. The safeguarding team is appropriately qualified and visible.

“All campuses have their own designated safeguarding lead, deputies and safeguarding professionals. Staff understand how to report concerns and leaders understand well the importance of referring concerns to relevant agencies when required.

“Mostly, staff capture and record information relating to any safeguarding concerns accurately. Leaders know and understand how their tracking systems work, although in a few instances, information on individual safeguarding cases is split up and saved in more than one place. This makes it harder for leaders to easily track actions and updates for each case.

“Staff benefit from a wide range of suitable training to help them to support the complex needs of their learners. New staff follow a thorough induction plan, which includes key information about safeguarding policies and procedures.

“Where necessary, learners have an individual risk assessment which identifies accurately the support they need. Those with more significant behavioural support needs have thorough and helpful positive behaviour plans.

“Learners are well supported when they attend college. Staff know them well.”

Portland Group CEO, Dr Mark Dale, said: “We recently had a short-notice, themed inspection from Ofsted who came to review the student welfare and safety arrangements in the college.

“Portland College has more than 300 High Needs Students and is one of the largest specialist provisions in the UK, so it is understandable that Ofsted would want to verify that we are properly taking care of those vulnerable young people.

“They were also able to inspect the two new sites we had opened since our last full inspection in 2023.

“The short inspection report confirms that all our arrangements are working well and meeting the high standard expected for safeguarding.”

Following the college’s last full inspection in 2023 they were rated ‘outstanding’ in all categories.