Evelina Hospital School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school The visionary headteacher, ably supported by her skilled and committed staff, is dedicated to achieving outstanding outcomes for all pupils. All groups of pupils, including disabled pupils and those with special educational needs, make outstanding progress. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make outstanding progress, which prepares them well for moving into Year 1.

The rapid and sustained progress made by all groups of pupils owes much to the high quality of teaching. Learning in most lessons seen during the inspection was outstanding and all teaching is consistently at least good. Pupils enjoy their learning.

Their beh...aviour is excellent because of the highly effective support they receive from their staff. Pupils say they feel happy, safe and secure at the school. These views are confirmed by the school's own surveys.

Parental satisfaction is extremely high. Parents appreciate the care, dedication and professionalism shown by the staff. Leadership and management are outstanding.

The unrelenting focus on improvement by senior leaders, all staff and the governors has led to further improvements, especially in teaching and learning, since the previous inspection. A small minority of pupils have recurring admissions to the hospital. Their progress is also outstanding, but a customised support programme, involving consistent outreach provision, has not been established.

Information about this school

Evelina Hospital School is part of the St Thomas' Hospital complex in central London. The school provides education for pupils of all abilities who are in-patients, out-patients or siblings of patients at St Thomas' Hospital. Some pupils are taught in main classrooms in the 'atrium school', others are taught on their hospital ward (ward school) or in the dialysis unit (dialysis school).

Pupils come from a wide geographic area and from the full range of social and cultural backgrounds. During the last year, the school has helped educate some 1,500 pupils, who reside in over 80 different local authority areas. Some pupils are patients from overseas who are attending the hospital for specialist treatment.

Some pupils have severe disabilities, whilst others have a statement of special educational needs from their home schools. On average, pupils attend the school for between one and ten sessions before being discharged from hospital and returning to their 'home' school. Some pupils, especially in dialysis school, remain at Evelina for extended periods of time, either full time or on regular days each week as part of their treatment.

The Early Years Foundation Stage takes children between the age of two and five years. For some, this is their first experience of schooling. The school also provides for post-16 students; although, at the time of this inspection, no sixth formers were attending.

The school also admits a small number of long-stay or recurring siblings. These pupils are generally in the Early Years Foundation Stage or primary phase and return to their home school as soon as their brother or sister is discharged. All pupils attending the school are participating in education during a period when they are unwell, possibly receiving long-term treatment, recovering from injury, or from major surgery.

Many of the pupils are in an unfamiliar environment. They can be in pain or discomfort and frequently can be frightened or anxious about their pending treatments. Many children of working parents often have to spend long periods of time in hospital without a familiar adult.

Also at this postcode