Blue Mountain Education, Cossall

Special
Other independent special school
Mixed
Ages 818

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Alison Widdowson
Pupils:9 / 15 capacity
LA:Nottinghamshire
Phone:07966936965
Address:Willow Farm, Off Newton Lane, Cossall, NG16 2SD
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:7 April 2006

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 15 September 2025View full report
URN:131536
UKPRN:10014903
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Broxtowe
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Blue Mountain Education demonstrates strong commitment to health and safety with well-developed policies and high staff-to-pupil ratios ensuring close supervision. The school provides thoughtful facilities including a sensory room for emotional regulation and has robust recruitment procedures to ensure staff suitability. Staff receive specific training on safeguarding vulnerable pupils with SEND.

Key Strengths

  • Well-considered health and safety and risk assessment policies in place with regular staff review and adaptation
  • High staff-to-pupil ratio allows close supervision throughout the school day
  • Suitable premises with appropriate outdoor spaces, sensory room, and medical facilities at new sites
  • Robust recruitment and vetting procedures with electronic single central record meeting all requirements
  • Staff receive safeguarding training including specific knowledge about vulnerable pupils with SEND

Areas for Improvement

  • Only one designated safeguarding lead (DSL) with no deputies - insufficient for overseeing safeguarding across multiple sites
  • Proprietor has not fully considered how safeguarding systems will meet needs at each site
  • Not enough staff trained to manage safeguarding responsibilities across expanded provision
  • Leadership has not adequately planned how pupils' well-being will be supported at new sites

Safeguarding

Safeguarding arrangements are not effective for the proposed expansion - the school lacks sufficient trained staff and deputy DSLs to maintain oversight of safeguarding duties across multiple sites, potentially putting pupils at risk.

Blue Mountain Education is an independent special school for pupils aged 8-18 with social emotional and behaviour needs, autism, and ADHD. The inspection found the school is unlikely to meet independent school standards if its proposed expansion to two additional sites is approved.

At a Glance

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Ilkeston Rail Station
426m · 7 min walk

Bus Stops

Soloman Road (opp)
404m · 7 min walk
Ilkeston Railway Station (adj)
436m · 7 min walk
Church Lane (adj)
489m · 8 min walk
Awsworth Lane (o/s 29)
539m · 9 min walk
Waterside Retail Park (Adj)
723m · 12 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

60%

Available places

9 pupils

15 capacity

6 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Cossall

Low pressure
New homes approved:55
Projected new pupils:10

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cossall

Admissions Demand - Nottinghamshire

Low demand0.96x oversubscription

Places available

9,687

Applications

9,316

Got 1st preference

91.1%

Got preferred school

98.0%

Secondary admissions across Nottinghamshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(9)

15 September 2025
3 December 2024
15 March 2022

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

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