National Minimum Standards for Residential Special Schools

1.	Statement of the schools purpose
2.	Children's rights
3.	Child protection
4.	Care and control
5.	Quality of care
6.	Planning for care
7.	Premises
8.	Staff
9.	Management

2. Children's rights.

Consultation. Children should be encouraged and supported to make decisions about their lives and to have influence over the way the school is run. No assumption should be made that a child is unable to communicate their views.

Privacy and confidentiality. The school and staff respect a child's wishes for privacy and information about them is handled confidentially. Children's records are kept safe and secure and information only shared with people who have a right to access such information and a need to know.

The school provides information on when it may search pupils personal belongings. Children and staff are clear about the grounds for such searches. All searches are recorded and a note made of what, if anything, was found.

Complaints. Children know how to and feel able to complain if they are unhappy with any aspect of living in the school. A record of a complaint must be made including the name of the person making the complaint, date and nature of the complaint, what action is taken and the outcome.

Children and parents should be told how to complain directly to Ofsted, who should be notified of all serious complaints about the school.