SENSE Learning - Quality Assurance Policy

This Quality Assurance Policy is made accessible to all Parents, Students, Local Authorities, Schools and SENse Learning associates.

1. Introduction, purpose and scope

This policy sets out how SENse Learning assures the quality of the education and support its students receive. Our commissioners require us to evidence that each student's provision meets their specification and the outcomes agreed for that student.

The policy applies to SENse Learning's employees, who must follow it.

Much of our provision is delivered by self-employed associates. Associates are not bound by this policy. Their obligations are set out in their contract for services, and section 4 summarises what they provide. Associates decide how they deliver their sessions. Our quality assurance looks at whether each student's provision meets the agreed specification and outcomes, not at how an associate chooses to work.

2. Principles

SENse Learning is committed to continuously reviewing its services so that every student receives high quality provision that meets their needs.

Every aspect of the provision we arrange is open to scrutiny. Quality assurance focuses on the student: their progress, engagement, attendance and wellbeing, and whether their provision meets the agreed specification and outcomes.

3. Roles and responsibilities

Directors will regularly review the quality of SENse Learning's services through termly Head Office meetings. They will review the performance of employees through appraisals and 1:1 check-ins.

The Pathways Manager will:

• review whole-cohort data on student progress, engagement and attendance each term;

• discuss student progress and data trends with Pathway Leads, and agree plans where there are concerns; and

• attend or contribute to quality assurance meetings with commissioners, with the Business Development Manager.

Pathway Leads will:

• meet regularly with case coordinators to discuss student progress;

• carry out 360 reviews (section 5);

• review the termly reports produced by case coordinators;

• check that student records, such as daily logs, tracking documents and risk assessments, are complete and meet the service specification;

• review data on progress, engagement and attendance for students in their pathway each half term; and

• agree actions with case coordinators where a student's data shows concerns.

Case coordinators will:

• review the daily logs for the students they coordinate each week, and raise any concern about whether a student's provision meets the specification with the associate and Pathway Lead; and

• update student tracking documents each half term.

The Qualifications Lead is SENse Learning's designated NCFE coordinator and will:

• quality assure our qualifications offer on a continual basis, including exams and coursework; and

• attend NCFE external quality assurance visits and act on any recommendations.

4. What associates provide

Associates decide their own teaching methods, planning, resources and approach. Under their contract for services, they provide the records SENse Learning needs to evidence each student's provision to the commissioner:

• a daily log for each session delivered;

• the information needed for tracking documents and termly reports on the student's progress, engagement and attendance;

• prompt notice of any change in risk, for the student's risk assessment; and

• prompt reporting of any safeguarding concern, in line with the Safeguarding Policy.

Associates also cooperate with 360 reviews where a student is selected (section 5).

5. The 360 review

A 360 review is a health check of an individual student's provision. It brings together several sources of evidence to judge whether the provision is effective, suitable and meeting the agreed outcomes.

Selecting students. Students are selected based on need and the time since their provision was last reviewed. Pathway Leads, the Pathways Manager and the Managing and Operational Directors carry out 360 reviews each term on a rolling basis. Other Head Office employees may take part, as the Pathways Team decides.

What a 360 review covers. It may include:

• a visit to a session, to see the student's provision in practice;

• a review of the student's records, including daily logs, tracking documents and risk assessments;

• discussion with the professionals involved in the student's provision; and

• feedback forms sent to the student, their parents or carers, and relevant professionals such as their social worker.

The following are indicators of quality, not required methods:

• the student is engaged and making progress towards the agreed outcomes;

• the provision is adapted to the student's needs;

• records are complete and give an accurate picture of the provision; and

• the student, family and professionals are satisfied with the provision.

The report. After each 360 review, a report is written setting out the student's progress and recommended next steps for their provision.

6. Findings and follow-up

Any safeguarding concern identified during quality assurance is acted on immediately under the Safeguarding Policy.

Where a review finds that a student's provision is meeting the specification, no further action is needed.

Where it is not:

• for employees, actions are agreed and followed up through line management;

• for associates, SENse Learning will tell the associate which part of the specification is not being met. Under the contract for services, SENse Learning may ask the associate to remedy it, withhold payment for any service not delivered, or decline to offer further referrals.

SENse Learning's disciplinary and capability procedures apply to employees only.

7. Provision feedback

SENse Learning welcomes open and honest feedback on the quality and effectiveness of its provision from students, parents and carers, schools, local authority partners, employees and associates.

• Feedback forms are sent to parents and carers and students each term.

• Additional feedback forms are sent to the student, their parents or carers and relevant professionals when the student has a 360 review.

• When a student leaves SENse Learning, feedback forms are sent to the student, their parents or carers and relevant professionals such as their social worker or SENCo.

The Pathways Manager and Pathway Leads review all feedback and develop action plans to address any concerns or areas for improvement.

8. Review of this policy

This policy is reviewed annually by the Operational Director, and sooner if commissioner requirements or relevant guidance change.